Court ratifies emergency hire of hydraulic modeler; $30,000 contract to aid flood analysis

The commissioners court ratified an emergency professional-services contract with Waterway Engineering for $30,000 to secure a hydraulic model and related technical assistance used to analyze the July 4 flood. The court voted unanimously to ratify the hire after County Engineer Charlie Hastings told the court the model helped explain flood extent and guided revised search activity.

Hastings said the model was developed by an outside hydraulics specialist who had produced results that matched observed high-water marks and aerial imagery. The engineer said the county evaluated the analysis, compared it to STAR-request imagery from the Harris County Flood Control District and found the model's inundation paths and timing useful for understanding how flood waters moved through the South Fork drainage basin and affected tributaries.

County staff and the county attorney said the procurement followed emergency protocols: professional services must be selected on qualifications first, then negotiated on price. The county signed an emergency contract to secure the modeler's services for continued analysis and public briefings, including a scheduled town hall; staff told the court they will seek FEMA reimbursement but acknowledged the county could be on the hook if federal reimbursement is denied.

A motion to ratify the contract passed with a unanimous vote. The court and staff said the contract terms were reviewed with TDEM and county finance staff to improve the likelihood of reimbursement and that the modeler will appear at public briefings to explain results to residents.