HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A new Harris County report shows that most disaster relief projects under the county’s flood bond program are unlikely to meet federal and state funding deadlines, putting more than $245 million at risk as officials seek extensions and address delays tied to environmental clearances and project schedules.
The report, which county commissioners received last week, examined 28 flood mitigation projects delayed after officials identified a multimillion-dollar funding shortfall. The projects face deadlines in 2027 and 2028 set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Texas General Land Office.
According to the report, six of the 11 disaster relief projects funded through the flood bond program will not meet a February 2027 deadline requiring construction completion. The county has started construction on four projects expected to meet the deadline.
The six projects at risk total about $245.8 million and include channel conveyance improvements in Precincts 1 and 2 and stormwater detention basin projects in Precincts 2, 3 and 4.
Emily Woodell, spokesperson for the Harris County Flood Control District, said the county has discussed a possible extension with the Texas General Land Office.
“There is a grace period between our current deadline and the ultimate grant deadline to HUD,” Woodell said. “The GLO has been clear that they want these dollars to stay in Harris County, as do we.”
The General Land Office has not approved an extension. Flood Control District Executive Director Tina Petersen previously said several projects are awaiting environmental clearances from HUD before construction can proceed.
Voters approved the county’s $2.5 billion flood bond in 2018 following Hurricane Harvey. The program included drainage repairs, channel improvements, voluntary property buyouts and upgrades to the county’s flood warning system.
County officials later secured about $2.7 billion in state and federal funding to cover remaining project costs. Officials also reported an 8% increase in costs due to inflation.
General Land Office spokesperson Brittany Eck said HUD controls whether extensions will be granted because the agency set the final 2028 grant deadline.
“If Harris County takes longer than their contract allows, then we will not have time to finalize the documentation to close out the full grant,” Eck said. “Failure to meet HUD’s deadline could result in a multitude of HUD decisions, including partial or full recapture of the grant funds.”
The report states that only 11 of the 28 projects remain on schedule to meet funding deadlines. Mitigation projects face a 2028 deadline.
During a recent Commissioners Court meeting, County Judge Lina Hidalgo questioned Petersen about the delays and later said the information provided by the flood control district did not fully explain the status of the projects.
In a statement Tuesday, Hidalgo said county officials still need a clear explanation of the obstacles preventing projects from moving forward.
“This is personal to me, not only because of the suffering many communities have endured, but because of the extraordinary effort it took to bring these funds to Harris County,” Hidalgo said.
HUD has not responded to requests for comment. In 2024, the General Land Office negotiated an extension for disaster recovery grant funds, although HUD stated at the time that it would no longer approve additional extensions.
Eck said HUD evaluates grant progress based on construction expenditures and project completion.
“HUD does not consider a project complete until people are benefiting from it,” Eck said.
Hidalgo said the county must keep the projects on schedule as hurricane season approaches.
“These communities have been through so much, and with hurricane season approaching, we must be willing to confront hard truths so we can address them,” she said.
