Cultural District Cypresswood Flooding Update Wednesday, April 20, 2016, 8 pm
It has been a profoundly difficult few days for the people of Houston and Harris County, and particularly for the
residents and business owners located along Cypress Creek. As you can see from the aerial photos of the heart of the
Cypress Creek Cultural District, many of our Cultural District supporters, particularly Chaparral Management and Brad
Sondock’s Retail Properties Group have suffered tremendous losses. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and our
hard-hit Wimbledon and Cypress Creek neighborhoods.
We are extremely grateful that it was confirmed this afternoon that waters have not gotten inside of The Centrum,
Cypress Creek Christian Church and Community Center, The Pearl Fincher Museum, The Barbara Bush Harris County
Library, or Harris County Courthouse Precinct 4 Annex. We will have to wait until waters have receded to determine
the damage done to the parks, softball fields and hike and bike trails.
The Cultural District—The Pearl, Centrum/Church and Community Center, and Barbara Bush Library— is the highest
spot along Cypresswood Drive where flooding occurred. At the height of the flooding, the water was about 2 feet
below the floor levels of the Centrum/Community Center Complex and The Pearl Museum. The water level was just
inches below the floor level of the Precinct 4 County Courthouse, which also fortunately remained dry inside. Too close
for comfort, but a good thing. The elevation at the intersection of Stuebner Airline and Cypresswood has fallen about 2
feet since Tuesday. It reached a level above the 100 year floodplain. All artwork remained safe and secure inside The
Pearl Fincher Museum.
We are so fortunate to have County and Precinct 4 officials and staff who have demonstrated heroic efforts to see to
the safety and well-being of our area residents: Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman, Precinct 4 Harris County
Commissioner Jack Cagle, Precinct 4 Harris County Constable Mark Herman, Precinct 4 Judge Lincoln Goodwin, their
amazing officers and staff members, parks department staff, emergency response teams, and dozens upon dozens of
community volunteers. A special thank you these dedicated public servants and volunteers who successfully evacuated
the Atria Senior Living residents. Thank you to the good people at Champion Forest Baptist Church who are providing
evacuation assistance and staging area for residents of the senior living facilities along Cypresswood. Thank you to all
of those who have gone above and beyond to keep us safe through these devastating storms.
The attached pictures provide a good view of the flooding in the Cultural District.
Aerial photos were taken Tuesday, April 19th.
Yorkminster/Cypresswood Intersection