General

In the past, the levees near the developing areas around Missouri City and Sugar Land have experienced severe hog damage. Trapping and removing/destroying the hogs proved to be a temporary solution due to the rapid breeding cycle of the hogs and the lack of natural predators in the area.

More recently, FCLID and a number of other levee districts have been treating their levees and ditches with insecticides, mostly to control ants (their beds/burrows can damage the levee surface and grass cover). An added benefit of that treatment is the reduction of grubs on our levees, which then reduces the occurrence of hogs rooting into the grass cover and damaging the surfaces of our levees and ditches. Without a food source, the hogs move on to other areas, unfortunately sometimes residents’ yards and common areas along the streets.

In 2023, FCLID partnered with neighborhoods and First Colony Community Services Association (FCCSA) to place fences near the levee to prevent hogs from entering neighborhoods. Large gates were installed for the sole use of FCLID for equipment access to the levee.  It is hoped this will reduce the hog damage in residential neighborhoods in the District.

All FCLID property owners pay property taxes that provide for the maintenance, upkeep and debt service of the levee.  The construction of the levee was funded through the issuance of tax exempt bonds.

First Colony LID has joined the Fort Bend Economic Development Council (FBEDC) with other levee districts in the County to form the FBFMC (Fort Bend Flood Management Committee).

The purpose of this coalition is to come together to form a strong, collective voice to address federal, state, and local regulations and guidelines that affect leveed areas.  You can follow this committee on the FBEDC here.

The FBFMC has engaged consultants to work with the member districts to identify the issues and formulate legislative relief so we continue to benefit from the many years of successful flood management here in FBC.

In 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) changed how flood insurance (National Flood Insurance Program, NFIP) rates are calculated for your home and property.  A new rating system called Risk Rating 2.0 (RR 2.0) was introduced.  RR 2.0 supposably allows FEMA to determine premium rates per property based on factors such as proximity to a flooding source, 1^st floor elevation, replacement cost of rebuilding, etc.  This is not a complete list because FEMA has not disclosed exactly how the rate engine is formulated.

In the past, premium rates were determined by mapped flood zones.  In the 100-year floodplain (aka, special flood hazard area or SFHA) federally-backed or regulated lenders must require that flood insurance be purchased and maintained.  Leveed districts in Ft. Bend County are accredited by FEMA, thus avoiding the SFHA designation. As a result, homeowners received Preferred Rate Policies, saving hundreds of dollars, and were exempt from this mandatory purchase of flood insurance.

Under the new NFIP RR 2.0, flood insurance has become a major concern as premium rates have increased, policy holder numbers across the country have started to decrease, and new guidelines are being implemented that potentially could have a negative effect on us and other levee districts.

Some of the current steps being taken by the EDC and FBFMC to address this concern are:

1. Setting the goal of:  Affordable, voluntary flood insurance for 100-year accredited levee protected areas,
2. Requesting that accredited levees continue to exempt protected communities from SFHA designation and mandatory flood insurance purchase,
3. Requiring FEMA to be transparent with the RR 2.0 methodologies and disclose the full actuarial premium on all NFIP flood insurance bills,
4. Ensuring the data being used by FEMA to set RR 2.0 rates in leveed areas is correct.

Through our participation in the FBFMC under the EDC, this district will continue to monitor and challenge any change that goes against the best interest of our residents and businesses.

We trust you will stay engaged and support our efforts through this coalition on your behalf.

HOUSTON, Texas (CW39) The City of Sugar Land recently launched a web-based tool, to provide residents and city engineers with real-time information on street flooding. The city hopes this will help residents make more informed decisions to protect life and property.

Called the Integrated Stormwater Management Model (ISWMM), it is a system of integrated drainage models that includes the entire city and its infrastructure assets. It is connected to the 28 rain gauges across the city that report real-time information during weather events which is used to create ponding maps.

The system gives:

• public access to real-time ponding information;
• the ability to send notifications about ponding, street flooding and potential street closures;
• assistance in the planning of evacuation routes; and
• assistance in evaluating current drainage infrastructure to more efficiently target drainage improvements.

“ISWMM is a sophisticated piece of technology that not many cities have. This technology is a good reflection of the commitment of Sugar Land to provide its residents with useful tools that can keep them out of harm’s way and save time and money for the City. Additionally, having ISWMM as a part of larger system that includes emergency alert and flood gauges will work to keep residents safe as major flood events impact our region and rainfall events continue to change.”

https://cw39.com/news/sugar-land-launching-real-time-flood-warning-system-to-help-keep-residents-safe

Should you buy flood insurance or not if you live within the boundaries of First Colony Levee Improvement District (FCLID)?  That is a question that each homeowner must ask themselves.  Whether you already have it or are considering it, here is something you need to know.

FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is coming out with a new method of rating the flood risk of a property.  Their original method was with a product called Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM).  This methodology has not changed in over 50 years, but change is coming, and it will go into effect October 1, 2021.  This new method called Risk Rating 2.0 utilizes the latest technology available to assess the flood risk of a property.

With Risk Rating 2.0, FEMA estimates that 14% of Texas residents with an existing flood insurance policy will see an immediate decrease in their flood insurance premium; 79% of Texas residents with an existing flood insurance policy will see an immediate increase in their flood insurance premium that could range from $0 to $10 per month; 3% of Texas residents with an existing flood insurance policy will see an immediate increase in their flood insurance premium of $10 to $20 per month; and 4% of Texas residents with an existing flood insurance policy will see an immediate increase in their flood insurance premium greater than $20 per month.

We do not yet know how Risk Rating 2.0 will impact flood insurance prices in FCLID.  We do not know which category of premium change will include us.  However, if you already have flood insurance, you are grandfathered into how fast your flood insurance premium can increase.  It is federally mandated that a flood insurance premium cannot increase by more than 18% per year.

Therefore, we encourage you to get flood insurance. Contact your home insurance provider.  Since a flood insurance policy takes 30 days to go into effect, you must purchase your policy by September 1, 2021, for your policy to become effective prior to the effective date of Risk Rating 2.0.

Click here for additional information regarding Risk Rating 2.0.