Know Your Government — Week 5: Harris County Flood Control District

Here's a question most people never think about until their street turns into a river: who decides whether your home floods? Not whether it rains — that's God's department. But whether the bayou behind your subdivision can handle what comes, whether the detention basin upstream holds, whether the channel was cleared last quarter, whether the drainage project your neighborhood needs is even on somebody's list. That's a government decision — made by the same five people you met in Week 3 (Commissioners Court), and funded by your money: about $100 million a year, which you voted on in November 2024.

This week we look at the Harris County Flood Control District. If you live in Harris County, this agency affects your property value, your insurance rate, and whether you sleep easy when the rain starts. Let's find out if they know your neighborhood exists.

Come prepared (5 minutes): hcfcd.org → 2018 Flood Bond Dashboard → search by location to see every project near you (funded, under construction, in design, scheduled). And sign up for free flood alerts at harriscountyfws.org — enter your address and your phone becomes a flood early-warning system.

Watch on YouTube →

Liberty Watch — Your Government, This Week

Flood Control District is this week's civic centerpiece (above). February council cadence continues; rosters and contacts as published in our Week-1 Liberty Watch.

Prosperity Spotlight

Bay Area Cycling — Pasadena's locally owned bike shop and service center at 2049 S Richey St. Rooted in the Bowling family's 1948 bicycle business, later rebranded Bay Area Cycling, now run by the Parker family with Jeff Parker the third generation. Bikes, repairs, and accessories for every level.

Mariscos El General — 2222 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena. Sinaloa-style seafood, patio, cocktails.

Captain Ceviche — 4900 Space Center Blvd, Pasadena. Lobster rolls, build-your-own ceviche, aguachile.

Clutch City Cluckers — 4815 Fairmont Pkwy, Pasadena. Chicken tenders fried to order, wings, sandwiches.

Growth & Learning

Tuttle Twins — illustrated books teaching kids 5–11 about free markets, personal responsibility, and individual liberty; a natural complement to "Know Your Schools."

Check out the Tuttle Twins →

Affiliate link — David uses these with his own kids.

Carried over: the La Porte Public Library's $20,000 Hancher Foundation digitization grant, 34 La Porte HS AP Scholars, San Jacinto College's $500,000 Houston Endowment grant and new leadership, and two local Certified Emergency Manager credentials — all detailed in our Week-1 Growth & Learning roundup.

We spend a lot of ink holding government accountable for financial sustainability. Fair question back at us: how sustainable are your own finances? Since last August I've run a simple, almost boring options framework — target around 1% a week, an hour or two to manage, none of the day-trading drama. It runs on the philosophy we preach here: systems over speculation, consistency over chaos, control what you can actually control. (It's the framework I use personally; the founder goes by Troy.)

Check out Low Stress Options →

Sponsors support the mission, never influence the message — I don't recommend anything I don't use.

Service Spotlight — CrowdHealth

My family of four has never carried traditional health insurance. We used a health-sharing ministry for years and recently switched to CrowdHealth. The model: a per-person monthly subscription for the platform and advocacy team, then each month you contribute toward another member's bills — never more than your set max. When you have an event, you pay a $500 commitment and the community covers the rest. We're testing it live right now on a $6,000 ER visit — CrowdHealth negotiates it down, I pay $500, the crowd covers the rest. No claims department, no denial letters. Our family runs roughly $400–660/month versus $1,500–2,500 for traditional Texas family coverage. What sold me: unlike an insurer, CrowdHealth doesn't profit from sickness — it's members helping members.

Learn how CrowdHealth works →

Referral link; paying member since January.

Service Opportunities

Habitat for Humanity Pasadena — building most Saturdays in the Freedom Lane Subdivision (off Westside). All skill levels; arrive 8 AM or email ED@pasadenahabitat.org. pasadenahabitat.org/volunteer.

Your School District Needs You — campus volunteer programs across all three districts, La Porte ISD HELPS Mentoring, the education foundations, and CTE career-day speakers. You don't need a child in school to help.

Loving La Porte — Michael and Kristy Hanks joined Joseph Daughtery, who feeds 80–150 kids at the La Porte Library after school, 3–4 times a week, out of his own pocket. They're building toward a community center (food pantry, clothing, life skills, laundry, tutoring). 84% of La Porte Elementary students live below the poverty line. Volunteer: setup 2:15 PM weekdays, Harris County Library, La Porte. Donate: Michael Hanks, 832-867-3499, mhanks11@hotmail.com. LovingLaPorte.org.

Blue Santa milestone — La Porte PD served nearly 1,000 children this season (up from 600–700). Registration reopens October 2026.

Pet of the Week

Jeremy — a 3-year-old, 56-lb neutered Labrador mix, potty-trained and gentle, on the urgent list at the Pasadena Animal Shelter, 5150 Burke Rd. Adopt or foster for free (supplies included for fosters). Shelter 713-848-5340; adoptions@pasadenatx.gov.

Community Calendar

HASC Tailgate Extravaganza — Fri Feb 6, Roaring '20s theme, Pasadena Fairgrounds. Health & Safety Council event for the industrial community.

Main Street Trade Days — Sat Feb 7, 10 AM–2 PM, Five Points Town Plaza, 200 block Main St, La Porte. 165-plus vendors. Free. (First Saturday monthly.)

Black History Month Story Time — Sat Feb 7, 11 AM, Historic Colored School & Museum, 401 Dr. MLK Jr. Dr., La Porte. Judge Janikka Bratton — La Porte's first African American Presiding Judge — reads.

Southeast Market — Sat Feb 7, 11 AM–4 PM, 7337 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena. 100-plus vendors, car/truck meet, food, music.

Mardi Gras at Kemah Boardwalk — Sat Feb 7, 10 AM–7 PM. Live music, kids' crafts, Yachty Gras boat parade 7 PM. Free.

Go Texan Rodeo in the Park — Sat Feb 7, 9 AM–1 PM, 1004 Bagby St, Houston. Inflatables, pony rides, petting zoo. Free, registration required.

Recurring: Art in the Park and Movies in the Park, monthly at Dow Park and various Deer Park locations.

From Local Theory

New music from Local Theory this week — catch the latest at localtheorymusic.com.

Take Action This Week

Look up your neighborhood on the hcfcd.org Flood Bond Dashboard · sign up for flood alerts at harriscountyfws.org · attend a Commissioners Court meeting.

Value for Value

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