Lessons in flood resilience for Texas
Nearly 100 years ago, a state meteorologist famously proclaimed that “Texas is the land of perennial drought, broken by the occasional devastating flood.” While the consequences of drought, and the need to develop water supplies are well understood, the problem and peril of floods is sometimes overlooked.
The Hill Country Floods of 2025 provided another painful reminder on the importance of flood resilience in Texas.
Data from Texas’ first State Flood Plan, prepared by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), illustrates the need for greater state action. Nearly one out of six Texans live or work in known flood areas. Over 1.6 million Texas buildings, including schools, hospitals and critical public safety offices, are in high-risk flood areas. And tragically, Texas leads the nation in flood-related deaths.
Recently, Texas 2036 partnered with the American Flood Coalition to host a webinar exploring flood resilience in Texas with lessons learned from other states. Speakers included former Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls, North Carolina state Rep. Mark Pless, Dr. Ruth Akintoye with the American Flood Coalition, and former TWDB Executive Administrator Jeff Walker.
Here are three key takeaways from the event.
1. Watershed approaches are key.
Floods do not respect city, county or special district boundaries. They do, however, follow the physical laws of hydrology within a watershed or river basin. Local efforts alone are not the most effective approach to flood resilience as they may not account for upstream or downstream needs or impacts. One community’s local solution may make another’s problems worse.
Watershed-based, regional solutions are the key to success here. As Dr. Akintoye noted, watershed approaches that involve different local entities yield better strategic planning and project implementation, financial efficiency, and improved decision-making. The success of watershed solutions, however, hinges on state leadership.
2. “States are the cornerstone for effective flood resilience.”
Every speaker during the webinar discussed the critical role of state governments in flood resilience. Last year, Texas published its first flood plan. North Carolina has its own flood resiliency blueprint. In 2021, Florida passed its “Always Ready” initiative investing $100 million per year in flood resilience.
Beyond planning, the panelists also observed the consistent need for state financial support for flood infrastructure. Many communities lack the revenue or tax base needed to support flood projects. While these projects should be locally driven, and aligned with watershed needs, state funding remains a critical component towards success. As Rep. Pless, whose North Carolina district was devastated by Tropical Storm Fred in 2021 and Hurricane Helene in 2024, observed, “local folks need our support… but we have to walk this mile with them forever.”
3. Flood resilience is credit positive.
Perhaps one of the more interesting discussion points was how investments in flood resilience contribute to sound state fiscal policy. Florida House Speaker Sprowls noted that state investments in infrastructure, including flood protection, sent a strong message to financial markets on the state’s commitment to resilience. Florida’s bond rating improved as a result. Sprowls also noted that flood infrastructure investments can also affect insurance markets by lowering risks, making insurance more affordable for homeowners and businesses.
What’s next?
The 2024 State Flood Plan recommends over $54 billion in flood management strategies, mitigation projects and evaluations. While the dedicated revenue stream to the Texas Water Fund authorized by Proposition 4 may be used for flood projects, that funding is also needed to address the $154 billion in long-term water infrastructure needs that include developing water supplies and fixing aging systems. Proposition 4 alone cannot address what must be invested for flood resilience in Texas. Greater state leadership and investment will be essential to long-term success.