Episode Overview
Title: Flood mapping tool helps South Texas communities better understand flooding risks
Host: Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, Yale Center for Environmental Communication
Date: July 30, 2026
This episode of Climate Connections focuses on how innovative flood mapping technology is aiding South Texas communities—particularly low-income and largely Latino colonias—in understanding and responding to increasing flood risks driven by climate change. Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz discusses the impact of recent extreme weather events and highlights a community-engaged scientific approach developed by Lucas Beluri and partners.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Recent Extreme Rainfall and Its Impact
- In March 2025, parts of South Texas received more than a foot of rain in less than three days, leading to significant and prolonged flooding.
[00:01] Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz introduces the massive rainfall event and its aftermath.
Quote:
“Some communities were flooded and inundated for up to and even longer than a week after the major rain event.”
— Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz [00:14]
2. Vulnerability of Colonias
- Colonias, described as low-income, majority Latino communities, were among the hardest hit.
- These neighborhoods are uniquely vulnerable, as many were originally developed on repurposed farmland shaped to hold water ("like a bowl"), lacking adequate drainage infrastructure.
[00:20-00:37] Lucas Beluri provides context on colonias' flood risks.
Quote:
“Colonias are highly vulnerable to flooding. Many colonias were built in former farmland that was sort of shaped like a bowl to be irrigated from the Rio Grande river. And most colonias lack adequate drainage.”
— Lucas Beluri [00:29]
3. Worsening Storms in a Changing Climate
- Storms are growing more intense as a result of climate change, compounding the vulnerability of these communities.
[00:37] Dr. Leiserowitz emphasizes the climate change connection.
4. Creation of a Community-Driven Flood Mapping Tool
- Lucas Beluri, in partnership with community groups, developed a flood mapping tool combining satellite data and crowdsourced resident information.
- The tool documents which areas were inundated during 13 separate flood events over eight years in the southern tip of Texas.
[00:37–01:06]
Quote:
“It shows exactly which areas in the southern tip of Texas were inundated during each of 13 flood events over the past eight years.”
— Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz [00:52]
5. Features and Benefits of the Mapping Tool
- Residents can zoom in and out, type in their address, and directly see how their area has been affected in each flood event.
- This granularity empowers community members to identify which neighborhoods bear the greatest flood burdens and strengthen their advocacy for better flood protection and infrastructure solutions.
[01:06–01:20]
Quote:
“And it enables people to zoom in, to zoom out, to type in their address.”
— Lucas Beluri [01:06]
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
-
“Some communities were flooded and inundated for up to and even longer than a week after the major rain event.”
— Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz [00:14]
-
“Colonias are highly vulnerable to flooding. Many colonias were built in former farmland that was sort of shaped like a bowl... And most colonias lack adequate drainage.”
— Lucas Beluri [00:29]
-
“It shows exactly which areas in the southern tip of Texas were inundated during each of 13 flood events over the past eight years.”
— Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz [00:52]
-
“And it enables people to zoom in, to zoom out, to type in their address.”
— Lucas Beluri [01:06]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:01–00:14: Introduction and South Texas rainfall event
- 00:14–00:37: Flood severity and impact on colonias explained
- 00:37–01:06: Climate change link and description of the new flood mapping tool
- 01:06–01:20: Tool features and community benefits
Tone and Language
The episode maintains a concise, informative, and hopeful tone, spotlighting the intersection of climate science, technology, and community empowerment. Dr. Leiserowitz and Lucas Beluri use clear, accessible language to illustrate the lived realities of flood-prone communities and the powerful role of data-driven advocacy.
Summary
This episode compellingly demonstrates how localized, participatory technology can help vulnerable communities respond to the growing risks of climate change. By making flooding patterns visible and actionable, the flood mapping tool developed for South Texas colonias serves as both a warning and a resource for resilience-building.
