<!doctype html><html class="no-js" lang="en"><head><script>
   try {var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime();} catch(e){}
</script>
<meta itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/SpeakableSpecification" itemref="speakable" /><title>Houston's Poor Planning And Breakneck Growth Played Big Roles In Flooding : NPR</title><meta id="speakable" itemprop="cssSelector" content="[data-is-speakable]" /><meta charset="utf-8" /><meta name="robots" content="noarchive,index,follow" /><meta name="Rating" content="General" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, minimum-scale=1, maximum-scale=1, user-scalable=no, shrink-to-fit=no" /><meta name="npr-pjax" /><meta name="date" content="2017-11-09" /><link rel="canonical" href="https://www.npr.org/2017/11/09/563016223/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding" /><meta name="description" content="As researchers and engineers analyze the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, it's becoming clear that Houston's runaway development had a big role to play in flooding." /><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Environment" href="/rss/rss.php?id=1025" /><link rel="alternate" type="application/json" title="Environment" href="https://www.npr.org/feeds/1025/feed.json" /><link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="https://media.npr.org/templates/favicon/favicon-180x180.png" /><link rel="icon" sizes="96x96" href="https://media.npr.org/templates/favicon/favicon-96x96.png" /><link rel="icon" sizes="32x32" href="https://media.npr.org/templates/favicon/favicon-32x32.png" /><link rel="icon" sizes="16x16" href="https://media.npr.org/templates/favicon/favicon-16x16.png" /><meta property="og:title" content="Scientists In Houston Tell A Story Of Concrete, Rain And Destruction" /><meta property="og:url" content="https://www.npr.org/2017/11/09/563016223/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding" /><meta property="og:type" content="article" /><meta property="og:description" content="As researchers and engineers analyze the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, it's becoming clear that Houston's runaway development had a big role to play in flooding." /><meta property="og:image" content="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/11/09/addicks-flooding-1_wide-9517ecdb9be917661c25ac4665db1ce21dd9251c.jpg?s=1400" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/11/09/texas-flooding-1_wide-79c79a821064ff738ac19b749403eb8f082d421f.jpg?s=1400" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="NPR.org" /><meta property="fb:app_id" content="138837436154588" /><meta property="fb:pages" content="10643211755" /><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /><meta name="twitter:site" content="@NPR" /><meta name="twitter:domain" content="npr.org" /><meta name="twitter:image:src" content="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/11/09/addicks-flooding-1_wide-9517ecdb9be917661c25ac4665db1ce21dd9251c.jpg?s=1400" /><script id="npr-vars">
   window.NPR = window.NPR || {};
NPR.ServerConstants = {"cbHost":"npr.org","webHost":"https:\/\/www.npr.org","embedHost":"https:\/\/www.npr.org","webHostSecure":"https:\/\/secure.npr.org","apiHost":"https:\/\/api.npr.org","staticAssetHost":"https:\/\/s.npr.org","serverMediaCache":"https:\/\/media.npr.org","googleAnalyticsAccount":"UA-5828686-4","gtmKey":"GTM-K9RKM5","nielsenSFCode":"dcr","nielsenAPN":"NPR-dcr"};
NPR.serverVars = {"storyId":"563016223","facebookAppId":"138837436154588","webpackPublicPath":"https:\/\/s.npr.org\/templates\/javascript\/dist\/bundles\/","persistenceVersion":"78e0422e7d3a96db4afe321cfb4c3165","isBuildOut":true,"topicIds":["P1025","1001","1002","1003","1007"],"primaryTopic":"Environment","topics":["Environment","News","Home Page Top Stories","National","Science"],"theme":"1025","programId":"Morning Edition","program":"3","aggIds":["3","1001","1002","1003","1007","1025","562990556"],"byline":["Christopher Joyce"],"pubDate":"2017110907","pageTypeId":"1","title":"Scientists In Houston Tell A Story Of Concrete, Rain And Destruction","publisherOrgId":"1","rocketfuelCode":20501671};
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://s.npr.org/templates/javascript/lib/modernizr/modernizr.custom.js">
   </script>
<script>
   !function(e){function a(c){if(d[c])return d[c].exports;var b=d[c]={exports:{},id:c,loaded:!1};return e[c].call(b.exports,b,b.exports,a),b.loaded=!0,b.exports}var c=window.webpackJsonp;window.webpackJsonp=function(f,t){for(var n,r,o=0,i=[];o<f.length;o++)r=f[o],b[r]&&i.push.apply(i,b[r]),b[r]=0;for(n in t){var s=t[n];switch(typeof s){case"object":e[n]=function(a){var c=a.slice(1),d=a[0];return function(a,b,f){e[d].apply(this,[a,b,f].concat(c))}}(s);break;case"function":e[n]=s;break;default:e[n]=e[s]}}for(c&&c(f,t);i.length;)i.shift().call(null,a);if(t[0])return d[0]=0,a(0)};var d={},b={22:0};a.e=function(e,c){if(0===b[e])return c.call(null,a);if(void 0!==b[e])b[e].push(c);else{b[e]=[c];var d=document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0],f=document.createElement("script");f.type="text/javascript",f.charset="utf-8",f.async=!0,f.src=a.p+""+e+"."+{0:"a089a9fd569441dbb0ae",1:"8bc8b9abd84d51c908b3",2:"2cbacfe158c9055cdd8d",3:"fc03ddc26d3e6120522e",4:"12e8f597f716c404ca21",5:"b3a4f88b5992bbd7fdc7",6:"a32d7212b1a161a04f81",7:"81402a1dffc9c5f24812",8:"1f3592ddeae232f9e01f",9:"c6ed6c1a54a93bc8847e",10:"110d80fc6a9f871b8394",11:"2ca3760f0c4a44b7c809",12:"fd8d65c14b8e34da7f90",13:"d5d3eaee41289bd0e5a6",14:"55ed1ff3d9588722ab75",15:"58b7041890c6c65f6c82",16:"a3eab3c832128d6a5a09",17:"0ccf649f80f190d25a34",18:"cd7c16540b46f83432a9",19:"50e5d932d2b06d1ee9c8",20:"fc7603b7b8cd32f834f0",21:"3d3e0b6e7e534c0e5a65",23:"e776deefaf234eb216a2",24:"63ab92b3363eab4cc5e8",25:"7d9e5e31bc5d89bdd400",26:"e839dc7d6601ecb70102",27:"0b3e0fe275ab25c3811e",28:"9503a857ae0b154139b7",29:"6a33beffc54425a94074",30:"2de6663e52d3fe239d47",31:"dab76da3b3c67437f9ec",32:"88113db612b418c04315",33:"10012de29fdd38584906",34:"50dd6bf843074817092c",35:"34f9d5ccae9325cffae7",36:"0dcf5c821dc50c0b54e6",37:"8678a62d51138dad55a4",38:"0236b612056a40416539",39:"2c15e5aa5a3b410d86d3",40:"9f7792883002b7e5d009",41:"4d0a525f59f7e2ccb5c4",42:"64d53f03209dad1e11f6",43:"6a1706a3f76c0b81a07b",44:"eb1860eb2eb6de960769",45:"42cc88ed67c8b7eb472b",46:"c299bb5ad5d58a98f955",47:"b0128940c317bc9d8060",48:"72ca9b365592641d0031",49:"1a8300b8c3601e5dcbe4",50:"927c94c35ff3a7f27fe1",51:"9aeab6a199dd2ae761b1",52:"65da8656291e8334645e",53:"2f10137835fa6afb2124",54:"1cf873b6b9edd02a8330",55:"62da8446388796ce6fc3",56:"07437f9565c586e8b91c",57:"1766a386e42a11123050",58:"bb5546fc0e14478d07fe",59:"2b37cdaf95aac979e1d9",60:"2d9655dc3a9a17af7954",61:"b62e5bfaabb8b941df38",62:"51d670f69ca56df4a158",63:"c3127509c54bd8b871cb",64:"b4e8a58487e2677707bd",65:"9f74d98b39bdeb501d65",66:"e451188b17944baf60bd",67:"2b88aa0457cc01f47a9a",68:"863d4dfd39452592dfba",69:"516fed0bc83df8213739",70:"c3bb3c6823437178b497",71:"ce709e0e21490b6d4fa6",72:"7256c6b2853a3e9724b8",73:"61bc99406be90ea6e7b6",74:"9746a64a9ca3c08dd54b"}[e]+".chunk.js",d.appendChild(f)}},a.m=e,a.c=d,a.p="/templates/javascript/dist/bundles/"}(function(e){for(var a in e)if(Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(e,a))switch(typeof e[a]){case"function":break;case"object":e[a]=function(a){var c=a.slice(1),d=e[a[0]];return function(e,a,b){d.apply(this,[e,a,b].concat(c))}}(e[a]);break;default:e[a]=e[e[a]]}return e}([]));
</script>
<link rel="stylesheet" data-persist="true" media="screen, print" href="https://s.npr.org/templates/javascript/dist/bundles/persistent-css-c83e58a099bb902b005a.css" /><link rel="stylesheet" media="screen, print" href="https://s.npr.org/templates/javascript/dist/bundles/newsStory-css-c83e58a099bb902b005a.css" /><script type="text/javascript">
   document.domain="npr.org";
</script>
</head><body id="news" class="news tmplNewsStory  story-layout is-buildout no-transcript id563016223 " data-pjax-modules="util/env images/lazy-load chartbeat comscore metrics nielsen nielsenDCR rocketfuel copyright auto-refresh navigation/globalnav fitvids googletag dfp globalfooter persistent-audio player/more-options what-input metrics/doubleclickFloodlight metrics/facebookTracking ecommerce recommendations/end-of-story-recommendations-callout jw social/share slideshow images/enlargement swfbuilder contentfooter story/sticky-header story/date-tooltip callout/end-of-story-callout social/sharepop"><div class="skip-links">
      <h2>Accessibility links</h2>
   <ul>
            <li><a href="#mainContent" class="skiplink">Skip to main content</a></li>
      <li><a href="https://help.npr.org/customer/en/portal/articles/2535181-what-are-the-keyboard-shortcuts-for-using-the-npr-org-audio-player-" class="skiplink">Keyboard shortcuts for audio player</a></li>
   </ul>
</div>
<!--googleoff: index--><header id="globalheader" class="globalheader" aria-label="NPR header"><div class="globalheader-inner" data-metrics-all data-metrics-category="global navigation">
    <div class="lead" data-metrics-action="click npr logo">
        <button class="sidebar-button" id="js-sidebar-button" aria-controls="global-navigation-wrap" aria-expanded="false" data-metrics-action="toggle offcanvas">View Navigation</button>

        <!-- General color logo -->
        <a href="/" class="nprhome nprhome-news" data-metrics-action="click npr logo">
            <img src="//media.npr.org/chrome_svg/npr-logo-color.svg" alt="NPR logo"/>
            <h2 class="ecosystem-name">NPR</h2>
        </a>

        <!-- General b&w line logo -->
        <a href="/" class="nprhome nprhome-news-alt" data-metrics-action="click npr logo">
            <img src="//media.npr.org/chrome_svg/npr_logo.svg" alt="NPR logo"/>
            <h2 class="ecosystem-name">NPR</h2>
        </a>

        <!-- Music color logo -->
        <a href="/music/" class="nprhome nprhome-music" data-metrics-action="click npr logo">
            <img src="//media.npr.org/chrome_svg/music-logo-outline-thick.svg" alt="NPR Music logo"/>
            <h2 class="ecosystem-name">NPR Music</h2>
        </a>

        <!-- Books color logo -->
        <a href="/books/" class="nprhome nprhome-books" data-metrics-action="click npr logo">
            <img src="//media.npr.org/chrome_svg/npr-logo-color.svg" alt="NPR logo"/>
            <h2 class="ecosystem-name"><b>NPR</b> Books</h2>
        </a>

        <!-- About color logo -->
        <a href="/sections/750000/about-npr/" class="nprhome nprhome-about" data-metrics-action="click npr logo">
            <img src="//media.npr.org/chrome_svg/npr-logo-color.svg" alt="NPR logo"/>
            <h2 class="ecosystem-name"><b>NPR</b> About</h2>
        </a>

        <!-- Podcasts -->
        <a href="/podcasts/" class="nprhome nprhome-podcast" data-metrics-action="click npr logo">
            <img src="//media.npr.org/chrome_svg/podcasts/headphones-ee3d23.svg" alt="NPR Podcast Directory logo" class="img-headphones" />
            <img src="//media.npr.org/chrome_svg/npr-logo-color.svg" alt="NPR logo" class="img-npr-logo" />
            <h2 class="ecosystem-name"><b>NPR</b>Podcast Directory</h2>
        </a>

        <div class="search-wrapper">
            <form action="/search/index.php" method="get" name="searchForm" id="searchForm" class="search pjaxForm" role="search" aria-label="Search NPR">
                <label for="searchinput">Search</label>
                <input type="search" name="searchinput" id="searchinput" class="textbox searchbox" autocorrect="off"/>
                <a href="#" class="search-toggle" data-metrics-action="expand search">Toggle search</a>
            </form>
        </div>
    </div>
    <!-- /.lead -->

    <div class="global-navigation-wrap" id="global-navigation-wrap">
        <nav class="global-navigation" aria-label="main navigation">
            <!-- see globalnav.js for documentation on how topbar subnav dropdown system works -->

            <div class="top-level">
                <ul class="top-level-list ecosystem-all primary">
                    <li class="nprhome"><a href="/" data-metrics-action="click npr logo">NPR Home</a></li>
                    <!--<li class="stations has-subnav"><a href="/stations" data-metrics-action="click find stations">Find Stations</a></li>-->
                    <li id="station-navigation-mount"></li>
                </ul>

                <ul class="top-level-list ecosystem-news primary" data-metrics-category="global navigation">
                    <li class="news"><a href="/sections/news/" data-metrics-action="click news">News</a></li>
                    <li class="arts-life"><a href="/sections/arts/" data-metrics-action="click arts & life">Arts &amp; Life</a></li>
                    <li class="music"><a href="/music/" data-metrics-action="click music">Music</a></li>
                    <li class="topics has-subnav"><a href="/programs" data-metrics-action="toggle topics" data-metrics-label="#">Topics</a></li>
                    <li class="programs-podcasts has-subnav">
                        <a href="/programs" data-metrics-action="toggle programs & podcasts drawer">
                            Programs&nbsp;<b>&amp; Podcasts</b>
                        </a>
                    </li>
                </ul>
                <!-- /.ecosystem-news.primary -->

                <ul class="top-level-list ecosystem-music primary" data-metrics-category="music ecosystem navigation">
                    <li class="music-home">
                        <a href="/music/" data-metrics-action="click npr music">NPR Music</a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="genres has-subnav"><a href="#" data-metrics-action="toggle genres drawer">Genres</a></li>
                    <li class="new-music has-subnav">
                        <a href="#" data-metrics-action="toggle new music drawer">New Music</a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="concerts-videos has-subnav">
                        <a href="#" data-metrics-action="toggle concerts drawer">Concerts&nbsp;<b>&amp; Videos</b></a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="articles-lists has-subnav">
                        <a href="#" data-metrics-action="toggle articles drawer">Articles&nbsp;<b>&amp; Lists</b></a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="tiny-desk alternate">
                        <a href="/series/tiny-desk-concerts/" data-metrics-action="click tiny desk">Tiny Desk</a>
                    </li>
                </ul>
                <!-- /.ecosystem-music.primary -->

                <ul class="top-level-list ecosystem-books primary" data-metrics-category="books ecosystem navigation">
                    <li class="books-home">
                        <a href="/books/" data-metrics-action="click npr books">NPR Books</a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="author-interviews">
                        <a href="/sections/author-interviews/" data-metrics-action="click author interviews"><b>Author </b>Interviews</a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="find-books has-subnav">
                        <a href="#" data-metrics-action="toggle find books drawer">Find Books</a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="reviews has-subnav">
                        <a href="#" data-metrics-action="toggle reviews drawer">Reviews</a>
                    </li>
                </ul>
                <!-- /.ecosystem-books.primary -->

                <ul class="top-level-list ecosystem-about primary" data-metrics-category="about ecosystem navigation">
                    <li class="about-home">
                        <a href="/about/" data-metrics-action="click about npr">About NPR</a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="overview has-subnav">
                        <a href="/about/aboutnpr/" data-metrics-action="toggle overview drawer">Overview</a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="connect has-subnav">
                        <a href="#" data-metrics-action="toggle connect drawer">Connect</a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="support has-subnav">
                        <a href="/about/support/" data-metrics-action="toggle support drawer">Support</a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="press has-subnav">
                        <a href="/series/750003/press-room/" data-metrics-action="toggle press drawer">Press</a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="careers has-subnav">
                        <a href="/series/750004/careers" data-metrics-action="toggle careers drawer">Careers</a>
                    </li>
                </ul>
                <!-- /.ecosystem-about.primary -->

                <ul class="top-level-list ecosystem-podcast primary" data-metrics-category="podcast ecosystem navigation">
                    <li class="podcasts-home">
                        <a href="/podcasts/" data-metrics-action="click podcast directory">Podcast Directory</a>
                    </li>

                    <li class="podcast-categories has-subnav">
                        <a href="#" data-metrics-action="toggle categories">Categories</a>
                    </li>
                    <li class="podcast-local">
                        <div id="local-podcasts-nav-mount" class="podcast-local"></div>
                        <!-- data comes via JavaScript -->
                    </li>
                </ul>
                <!-- /.ecosystem-podcast.primary -->

                <ul class="top-level-list ecosystem-all secondary" data-metrics-category="global navigation">
                    <li id="station-donate-mount"></li>

                    <li class="nprshop">
                        <a href="https://shop.npr.org" data-metrics-action="click npr shop"><b>NPR</b> Shop</a>
                    </li>
                    <li id="user-account-access-dropdown-mount"></li>
                </ul>
                <!-- /.ecosystem-all.secondary -->
            </div>
            <!-- /.top-level -->

            <!-- News ecosystem -->
            <div class="subnav subnav-topics ecosystem-news" data-metrics-category="global navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>
                <div class="group">
                    <h3 class="group-hdr"><a href="/sections/news/" data-metrics-action="click news">News</a></h3>
                    <ul>
                        <li><a href="/sections/national/" data-metrics-action="click national">National</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/world/" data-metrics-action="click world">World</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/politics/" data-metrics-action="click politics">Politics</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/business/" data-metrics-action="click business">Business</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/technology/" data-metrics-action="click technology">Technology</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/science/" data-metrics-action="click science">Science</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/health/" data-metrics-action="click health">Health</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/codeswitch/" data-metrics-action="click race & culture">Race &amp; Culture</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/ed/" data-metrics-action="click education">Education</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
                <div class="group">
                    <h3 class="group-hdr"><a href="/sections/arts/" data-metrics-action="click arts & life">Arts &amp; Life</a></h3>
                    <ul>
                        <li><a href="/books/" data-metrics-action="click books">Books</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/movies/" data-metrics-action="click movies">Movies</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/pop-culture/" data-metrics-action="click pop culture">Pop Culture</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/food/" data-metrics-action="click food">Food</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/art-design/" data-metrics-action="click art & design">Art &amp; Design</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/performing-arts/" data-metrics-action="click performing arts">Performing Arts</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/photography/" data-metrics-action="click photography">Photography</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
                <div class="group">
                    <h3 class="group-hdr"><a href="/music/" data-metrics-action="click music">Music</a></h3>
                    <ul>

                        <li><a href="/series/98679384/first-listen" data-metrics-action="click first listen">First Listen</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/series/122356178/songs-we-love" data-metrics-action="click songs we love">Songs We Love</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/series/100920965/music-articles/" data-metrics-action="click music articles">Music Articles</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/series/tiny-desk-concerts/" data-metrics-action="click tiny desk">Tiny Desk</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/music-videos/" data-metrics-action="click videos">Videos</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>

                <div class="group">
                    <h3 class="group-hdr">More</h3>
                    <ul>
                        <li><a href="/about-npr/198341814/npr-blog-directory" data-metrics-action="click our blogs">Our Blogs</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/templates/corrections/corrections.php" data-metrics-action="click corrections">Corrections</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/about/aboutnpr/" data-metrics-action="click all about npr">All About NPR</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
            </div>


            <div class="subnav subnav-programs-podcasts ecosystem-news" data-metrics-category="global navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <div class="group">
                    <h3 class="group-hdr">News &amp; Conversations</h3>
                    <ul>
                        <li><a href="/programs/morning-edition/" data-metrics-action="click morning edition">Morning Edition</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/programs/all-things-considered/" data-metrics-action="click all things considered">All Things Considered</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/programs/fresh-air/" data-metrics-action="click fresh air">Fresh Air</a></li>
                        <li><a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow" target="_blank" data-metrics-action="click here & now">Here &amp; Now</a></li>
                        <li><a class="subnav__1a" href="http://the1a.org/" data-metrics-action="click 1a">1A</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510312/codeswitch" data-metrics-action="click code switch">Code Switch</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510311/embedded" data-metrics-action="click embedded">Embedded</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510325/the-indicator-from-planet-money" data-metrics-action="click the indicator from planet money">The Indicator from Planet Money</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510317/its-been-a-minute-with-sam-sanders" data-metrics-action="click it's been a minute with sam sanders">It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/programs/latino-usa/" data-metrics-action="click latino usa">Latino USA</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510310/npr-politics-podcast" data-metrics-action="click npr politics podcast">NPR Politics Podcast</a></li>
                        <li><a href="http://onpoint.wbur.org/" target="_blank" data-metrics-action="click on point">On Point</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510324/rough-translation" data-metrics-action="click rough translation">Rough Translation</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510318/up-first" data-metrics-action="click up first">Up First</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/" data-metrics-action="click weekend edition saturday">Weekend Edition Saturday</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/" data-metrics-action="click weekend edition sunday">Weekend Edition Sunday</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510323/whats-good-with-stretch-and-bobbito" data-metrics-action="click what's good with stretch & bobbito">What's Good with Stretch &amp; Bobbito</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/series/4692815/youth-radio" data-metrics-action="click youth radio">Youth Radio</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>

                <div class="group">
                    <h3 class="group-hdr">Storytelling &amp; Humor</h3>
                    <ul>
                        <li><a href="/programs/ask-me-another/" data-metrics-action="click ask me another">Ask Me Another</a></li>
                        <li><a href="http://www.cartalk.com" target="_blank" data-metrics-action="click the best of car talk">The Best Of Car Talk</a></li>
                        <li><a href="http://biglisten.org/" target="_blank" data-metrics-action="click the big listen">The Big Listen</a></li>
                        <li><a href="http://www.maximumfun.org/shows/bullseye" target="_blank" data-metrics-action="click bullseye">Bullseye</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/series/423302056/hidden-brain" data-metrics-action="click hidden brain">Hidden Brain</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this" data-metrics-action="click how i built this">How I Built This</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/programs/invisibilia/" data-metrics-action="click invisibilia">Invisibilia</a></li>
                        <li><a href="http://onlyagame.wbur.org/" data-metrics-action="click only a game">Only A Game</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/money/" data-metrics-action="click planet money">Planet Money</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510282/pop-culture-happy-hour" data-metrics-action="click pop culture happy hour">Pop Culture Happy Hour</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510315/radio-ambulante" data-metrics-action="click radio ambulante">Radio Ambulante</a></li>
                        <li><a href="http://storycorps.org" class="storycorps" target="_blank" data-metrics-action="click storycorps">StoryCorps</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/programs/ted-radio-hour/" data-metrics-action="click ted radio hour">TED Radio Hour</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/" data-metrics-action="click wait wait don't tell me">Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world/" data-metrics-action="click wow in the world">Wow in the World</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>

                <div class="group">
                    <h3 class="group-hdr">Music</h3>
                    <ul>
                        <li><a href="/series/98679384/first-listen/" data-metrics-action="click first listen">First Listen</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/sections/allsongs/" data-metrics-action="click all songs considered">All Songs Considered</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/series/122356178/songs-we-love/" data-metrics-action="click songs we love">Songs We Love</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/series/tiny-desk-concerts/" data-metrics-action="click tiny desk">Tiny Desk</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/series/alt-latino/" data-metrics-action="click alt.latino">Alt.Latino</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/510026/from-the-top" target="_blank" data-metrics-action="click from the top">From The Top</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/series/347139849/jazz-night-in-america" data-metrics-action="click jazz night in america">Jazz Night In America</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/series/mountain-stage/" data-metrics-action="click mountain stage">Mountain Stage</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/programs/piano-jazz/" data-metrics-action="click piano jazz">Piano Jazz</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/series/103063413/the-thistle-and-shamrock/" data-metrics-action="click the thistle & shamrock">The Thistle &amp; Shamrock</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/programs/world-cafe/" data-metrics-action="click world cafe">World Cafe</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>

                <div class="group">
                    <h3 class="group-hdr">More</h3>
                    <ul>
                        <li><a href="/programs/" data-metrics-action="click all programs">All Programs</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/" data-metrics-action="click podcast directory">Podcast Directory</a></li>
                        <!-- local organization podcast inserted here via JavaScript -->
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/organizations/1" data-metrics-action="click npr podcasts">NPR Podcasts</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
            </div>
            <!-- /.subnav-programs-podcasts -->
            <!-- /News ecosystem -->

            <!-- Music ecosystem -->
            <div class="subnav subnav-genres ecosystem-music" data-metrics-category="music ecosystem navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <ul>
                    <li><a href="/music/genres/rock/" data-metrics-action="click rock">Rock</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/music/genres/pop/" data-metrics-action="click pop">Pop</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/music/genres/jazz/" data-metrics-action="click jazz">Jazz</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/music/genres/classical/" data-metrics-action="click classical">Classical</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/music/genres/hip-hop/" data-metrics-action="click hip-hop">Hip-Hop</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/music/genres/r-b-soul/" data-metrics-action="click r&b/soul">R&amp;B/Soul</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/music/genres/folk/" data-metrics-action="click folk">Folk</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/music/genres/latin/" data-metrics-action="click latin">Latin</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/music/genres/world/" data-metrics-action="click world">World</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/music/genres/electronic-dance/" data-metrics-action="click electronic/dance">Electronic/Dance</a></li>
                </ul>
            </div>

            <div class="subnav subnav-new-music ecosystem-music" data-metrics-category="music ecosystem navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <ul>
                    <li><a href="/series/98679384/first-listen" data-metrics-action="click first listen">First Listen</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/series/122356178/songs-we-love/" data-metrics-action="click songs we love">Songs We Love</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/sections/allsongs/" data-metrics-action="click all songs considered">All Songs Considered</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/sections/music-reviews/" data-metrics-action="click reviews">Reviews</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/series/146587997/all-songs-tv/" data-metrics-action="click music videos">Music Videos</a></li>
                </ul>
            </div>

            <div class="subnav subnav-concerts-videos ecosystem-music" data-metrics-category="music ecosystem navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <ul>
                    <li><a href="/series/tiny-desk-concerts/" data-metrics-action="click tiny desk">Tiny Desk</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/series/live-in-concert/" data-metrics-action="click live concerts">Live Concerts</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/series/144918893/field-recordings/" data-metrics-action="click field recordings">Field Recordings</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/sections/studio-sessions/" data-metrics-action="click studio sessions">Studio Sessions</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/series/149937282/music-documentaries/" data-metrics-action="click music documentaries">Music Documentaries</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/sections/music-videos/" data-metrics-action="click music videos">Music Videos</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/series/356126782/festival-recordings/" data-metrics-action="click festival recordings">Festival Recordings</a></li>
                </ul>
            </div>

            <div class="subnav subnav-articles-lists ecosystem-music" data-metrics-category="music ecosystem navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <ul>
                    <li><a href="/series/100920965/music-articles/" data-metrics-action="click articles">Articles</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/sections/music-interviews/" data-metrics-action="click interviews">Interviews</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/sections/music-quizzes/" data-metrics-action="click quizzes">Quizzes</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/sections/music-lists/" data-metrics-action="click mnusic lists">Music Lists</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/series/482024024/best-music-of-2016" data-metrics-action="click best music of the year">Best Music of the Year</a></li>
                </ul>
            </div>
            <!-- /Music ecosystem -->

            <!-- Books ecosystem -->
            <div class="subnav subnav-find-books ecosystem-books" data-metrics-category="books ecosystem navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <div class="group">
                    <ul>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10110/art-design/" data-metrics-action="click art & design">Art &amp; Design</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10126/arts-entertainment/" data-metrics-action="click arts & entertainment">Arts &amp; Entertainment</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10101/biography-memoir/" data-metrics-action="click biography & memoir">Biography &amp; Memoir</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10102/business-economy/" data-metrics-action="click business & economy">Business &amp; Economy</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10122/children/" data-metrics-action="click children's books">Children's Books</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10123/comedy/" data-metrics-action="click comedy">Comedy</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10104/comics-graphic-novels/" data-metrics-action="click comics & graphic novels">Comics &amp; Graphic Novels</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10127/digital-culture/" data-metrics-action="click digital culture">Digital Culture</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>

                <div class="group">
                    <ul>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10103/faith-spirituality/" data-metrics-action="click faith & spirituality">Faith &amp; Spirituality</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10106/food-wine/" data-metrics-action="click food & wine">Food &amp; Wine</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10109/history-society/" data-metrics-action="click history & society">History &amp; Society</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10113/historical-fiction/" data-metrics-action="click historical fiction">Historical Fiction</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/191663270/horror-supernatural/" data-metrics-action="click horror & supernatural">Horror &amp; Supernatural</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10112/literary-fiction/" data-metrics-action="click literary fiction">Literary Fiction</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10114/mystery-thrillers/" data-metrics-action="click mystery & thrillers">Mystery &amp; Thrillers</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10116/parenting-families/" data-metrics-action="click parenting & families">Parenting &amp; Families</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>

                <div class="group">
                    <ul>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10125/poetry/" data-metrics-action="click poetry">Poetry</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10117/politics-public-affairs/" data-metrics-action="click politics & public affairs">Politics &amp; Public Affairs</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10118/romance/" data-metrics-action="click romance">Romance</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10119/science-fiction-fantasy/" data-metrics-action="click science fiction & fantasy">Science Fiction &amp; Fantasy</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10108/science-health/" data-metrics-action="click science & health">Science &amp; Health</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10120/sports/" data-metrics-action="click sports">Sports</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10124/travel/" data-metrics-action="click travel">Travel</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/books/genres/10121/young-adults/" data-metrics-action="click young adult">Young Adult</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>

                <div class="group">
                    <ul>
                        <li class="genre"><a href="/books/genres/10115/nonfiction/" data-metrics-action="click nonfiction">Nonfiction</a></li>
                        <li class="genre"><a href="/books/genres/10111/fiction/" data-metrics-action="click fiction">Fiction</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
            </div>

            <div class="subnav subnav-reviews ecosystem-books" data-metrics-category="books ecosystem navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <ul>
                    <li><a href="/sections/book-reviews" data-metrics-action="click book reviews">Book Reviews</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/series/257657827/this-weeks-must-read" data-metrics-action="click this week's must read">This Week's Must Read</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/series/104566969/my-guilty-pleasure" data-metrics-action="click my guilty pleasure">My Guilty Pleasure</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/series/three-books/" data-metrics-action="click three books...">Three Books...</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/series/153588024/pg-13-go-to-teen-reads" data-metrics-action="click pg-13: risky reads">PG-13: Risky Reads</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/series/you-must-read-this/" data-metrics-action="click you must read this">You Must Read This</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/summerbooks/" data-metrics-action="click summer books">Summer Books</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/bestbooks/" data-metrics-action="click best books of the year">Best Books of the Year</a></li>
                </ul>
            </div>
            <!-- /Books ecosystem -->

            <!-- About ecosystem -->
            <div class="subnav subnav-overview ecosystem-about" data-metrics-category="about ecosystem navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <ul>
                    <li><a href="/about/aboutnpr/" data-metrics-action="click overview">Overview</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/192827079/overview-and-history" data-metrics-action="click overview and history">Overview and History</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/178659563/our-mission-and-vision" data-metrics-action="click mission and vision">Mission and Vision</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/178640915/npr-stations-and-public-media" data-metrics-action="click stations and public media">Stations and Public Media</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/178660742/public-radio-finances" data-metrics-action="click npr finances">NPR Finances</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/179803822/people-at-npr" data-metrics-action="click people">People</a></li>
                    <li><a href="http://ethics.npr.org/" data-metrics-action="click ethics">Ethics</a></li>
                    <li><a href="about-npr/183726490/awards" data-metrics-action="click awards">Awards</a></li>
                </ul>
            </div>

            <div class="subnav subnav-connect ecosystem-about" data-metrics-category="about ecosystem navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <ul>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/177066727/visit-npr" data-metrics-action="click visit npr">Visit NPR</a></li>
                    <li><a href="http://www.nprpresents.org/" data-metrics-action="click npr presents">NPR Presents</a></li>
                    <li><a href="http://studio1.npr.org" data-metrics-action="click studio 1 events">Studio 1 Events</a></li>
                    <li><a href="http://generationlisten.npr.org/" data-metrics-action="click generation listen">Generation Listen</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/182673872/book-an-npr-speaker" data-metrics-action="click book a speaker">Book a Speaker</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/179881519/rights-and-permissions-information" data-metrics-action="click request permissions">Request Permissions</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/187046089/ways-to-listen-to-npr" data-metrics-action="click ways to listen">Ways to Listen</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/sections/npr-extra/" data-metrics-action="click npr extra blog">NPR Extra Blog</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/newsletters/" data-metrics-action="click sign up: newsletters">Email Newsletters</a></li>
                    <li><a href="https://shop.npr.org/" data-metrics-action="click shop npr">Shop NPR</a></li>
                    <li><a href="https://help.npr.org" data-metrics-action="click get help">Get Help</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/contact/" data-metrics-action="click contact us">Contact Us</a></li>
                </ul>
            </div>

            <div class="subnav subnav-support ecosystem-about" data-metrics-category="about ecosystem navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <ul>
                    <li><a href="/series/750002/support-public-radio" data-metrics-action="click support public radio">Support Public Radio</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/186948703/corporate-sponsorship" data-metrics-action="click corporate sponsorship">Corporate Sponsorship</a>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/181961258/volunteer-at-npr" data-metrics-action="click volunteer">Volunteer</a></li>
                </ul>
            </div>

            <div class="subnav subnav-press ecosystem-about" data-metrics-category="about ecosystem navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <ul>
                    <li><a href="/series/750003/press-room/" data-metrics-action="click releases and statements">Releases and Statements</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/182675632/photos-and-logos" data-metrics-action="click photos and logos">Photos and Logos</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about/press/NPR_Fact_Sheet.pdf" data-metrics-action="click fact sheet pdf">Fact Sheet (PDF)</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/185546105/media-relations-contacts" data-metrics-action="click media relations contacts">Media Relations Contacts</a></li>
                </ul>
            </div>

            <div class="subnav subnav-careers ecosystem-about" data-metrics-category="about ecosystem navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <ul>
                    <li><a href="/series/750004/careers">Careers at NPR</a></li>
                    <li><a href="https://recruiting.ultipro.com/NAT1011NATPR/JobBoard/af823b19-a43b-4cda-b6c2-c06508d84cf6" data-metrics-action="click search jobs">Search Jobs</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/179008081/tapping-into-the-npr-culture/" data-metrics-action="click culture">Culture</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/181909622/applying-at-npr/" data-metrics-action="click applying">Applying</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/181881227/internships-at-npr/" data-metrics-action="click interns">Interns</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/181880514/fellowships-at-npr/" data-metrics-action="click fellows">Fellows</a></li>
                    <li><a href="/about-npr/185550054/digital-careers-at-npr/" data-metrics-action="click digital">Digital</a></li>
                </ul>
            </div>
            <!-- /About ecosystem -->

            <!-- Podcast ecosystem -->
            <div class="subnav subnav-podcast-categories ecosystem-podcast" data-metrics-category="podcast ecosystem navigation">
                <a class="back back-to-top-level"><b class="icn-back"></b>Back</a>

                <div class="group">
                    <ul>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2000/arts" data-metrics-action="click arts">Arts</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2007/business" data-metrics-action="click business">Business</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2013/comedy" data-metrics-action="click comedy">Comedy</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2014/education" data-metrics-action="click education">Education</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2020/games-hobbies" data-metrics-action="click games & hobbies">Games &amp; Hobbies</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2026/government-organizations" data-metrics-action="click government & organizations">Government &amp; Organizations</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2031/health" data-metrics-action="click health">Health</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2036/kids-family" data-metrics-action="click kids & family">Kids &amp; Family</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>

                <div class="group">
                    <ul>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2037/music" data-metrics-action="click music">Music</a>
                        </li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2038/news-politics" data-metrics-action="click news & politics">News &amp; Politics</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2039/religion-spirituality" data-metrics-action="click religion & spirituality">Religion &amp; Spirituality</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2047/science-medicine" data-metrics-action="click science & medicine">Science &amp; Medicine</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2051/society-culture" data-metrics-action="click society & culture">Society &amp; Culture</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2056/sports-recreation" data-metrics-action="click sports & recreation">Sports &amp; Recreation</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2061/technology" data-metrics-action="click technology">Technology</a></li>
                        <li><a href="/podcasts/2066/tv-film" data-metrics-action="click tv & film">TV &amp; Film</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
            </div>
            <!-- /.subnav-podcast-categories -->
            <!-- /Podcast ecosystem -->

            <!-- Common ecosystem -->

            <!-- /.subnav-user-account -->
            <!-- /Common ecosystem -->

        </nav>
        <!-- ./global-navigation -->
    </div>
    <!-- ./global-navigation-wrap -->

    <!--
        .global-navigation-two
    -->
    <nav class="global-navigation-two" aria-label="station navigation" data-metrics-category="global navigation">
        <ul class="top-level">
            <li id="station-navigation-med-mount"></li>
            <li class="nprshop"><a href="https://shop.npr.org" data-metrics-action="click npr shop"><b>NPR</b> Shop</a></li>
            <li id="station-donate-med-mount"></li>
        </ul>
    </nav>

    <!--
        .global-navigation-three
        Gets created here via JavaScript on certain landing page layouts
    -->
</div>
<!-- .globalheader-inner -->
</header><main aria-label="main content"><noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-K9RKM5" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript><div class="speakable">
      <b data-is-speakable>Houston's Poor Planning And Breakneck Growth Played Big Roles In Flooding</b>   <b data-is-speakable>As researchers and engineers analyze the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, it's becoming clear that Houston's runaway development had a big role to play in flooding.</b>
</div>
<div id="wrapper">
      <div class="story-sticky-header">
    <div class="story-sticky-header-inner">
        <a href="/" class="nprhome nprhome-news"  data-metrics='{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;global navigation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;click npr logo&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;\/&quot;}' >
            <img src="//media.npr.org/chrome_svg/npr-logo-color.svg" alt="NPR logo"/>
        </a>

        <article id="res563019865" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module">
      <h2 class="audio-module-title">Scientists In Houston Tell A Story Of Concrete, Rain And Destruction</h2>
   <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"563016223:563019865","available":true,"duration":320,"title":"Scientists In Houston Tell A Story Of Concrete, Rain And Destruction","audioUrl":"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/me\/2017\/11\/20171109_me_houston-following_the_water.mp3?orgId=1&topicId=1025&d=320&p=3&story=563016223&siteplayer=true","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2017\/11\/09\/563016223\/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding","slug":"Environment","program":"morning edition","affiliation":"","song":"","artist":"","album":"","track":0,"type":"segment","subtype":"other"}' data-audio-metrics='{"playedFrom":"from sticky header"}'>
        <div class="audio-module-controls">
            <a class="audio-module-listen" href="https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2017/11/20171109_me_houston-following_the_water.mp3?orgId=1&amp;topicId=1025&amp;d=320&amp;p=3&amp;story=563016223&amp;siteplayer=true&amp;dl=1">
                <b class="audio-module-listen-inner">
                    <b class="audio-module-listen-icon icn-play"></b>
                    <b class="audio-module-listen-text">
                        <b class="audio-module-cta">Listen</b>
                        <b class="audio-module-listen-duration">
                            <span>&middot; </span>
                            <span>5:20</span>
                        </b>
                    </b>
                </b>
            </a>

                <time class="audio-module-duration" datetime="P5M,20S">5:20</time>
        </div>


</div>

   
    <div class="audio-module-tools">
        <button class="audio-module-tools-toggle"  data-metrics='{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;audio actions&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;open more options&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:null,&quot;noninteraction&quot;:true}' >
            <b class="icn-toggle"></b>
            <b class="label">Toggle more options</b>
        </button>
        <ul class="audio-module-more-tools">
                <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-download"><a href="https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2017/11/20171109_me_houston-following_the_water.mp3?orgId=1&amp;topicId=1025&amp;d=320&amp;p=3&amp;story=563016223&amp;siteplayer=true&amp;dl=1"  data-metrics='{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;audio actions&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;download audio&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;563016223&quot;,&quot;noninteraction&quot;:true}'  ><b class="icn-download"></b><b class="audio-tool-label">Download</b></a>
                </li>

                <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-embed" >
                    <button data-embed-url="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/563016223/563019865"  data-metrics='{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;audio actions&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;embed audio&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;563016223&quot;,&quot;noninteraction&quot;:true}' ><b class="button-inner"><b class="icn-embed"></b><b
                            class="audio-tool-label">Embed</b></b></button>

                    <div class="audio-embed-overlay">
                        <button class="btn-close"></button>
                        <label class="embed-label">
                            <b class="icn-embed"></b>
                            <b class="label">Embed</b>
                            <input class="embed-url embed-url-no-touch" readonly
                                   value="<iframe src=&quot;https://www.npr.org/player/embed/563016223/563019865&quot; width=&quot;100%&quot; height=&quot;290&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot; title=&quot;NPR embedded audio player&quot;></iframe>">
                        </label>

                        <b class="embed-url embed-url-touch">
                            <code><b class="punctuation">&lt;</b>iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/563016223/563019865" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"&gt;</code>
                        </b>

                    </div>
                </li>

                <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-transcript">
                  <a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=563016223"  data-metrics='{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;audio actions&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;click transcript&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;563016223&quot;,&quot;noninteraction&quot;:true}' >
                    <b class="icn-transcript"></b>
                    <b class="audio-tool-label">Transcript</b>
                  </a>
                </li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>
</article>

        <a href="#" class="title">
          <b>Scientists In Houston Tell A Story Of Concrete, Rain And Destruction</b>
          <time datetime="P5M,20S">5:20</time>
        </a>
    </div>
</div>   <section id="main-section"><header class="contentheader contentheader--one" data-metrics='{"category":"Environment"}' ></header><article class="story"><a id="mainContent"></a><div class="slug-wrap">

    <h3 class="slug">
        <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/environment/">Environment</a>
    </h3>
</div>
 <!--googleon: index--><div class="storytitle">
      <h1>Scientists In Houston Tell A Story Of Concrete, Rain And Destruction</h1>
   <input type="hidden" id="title563016223" value="Scientists In Houston Tell A Story Of Concrete, Rain And Destruction" />
   <input type="hidden" id="shortTitle563016223" value="Scientists In Houston Tell A Story Of Concrete, Rain And Destruction" />
   <input type="hidden" id="modelShortUrl563016223" value="https://n.pr/2zqgoUa" />
   <input type="hidden" id="modelFullUrl563016223" value="https://www.npr.org/2017/11/09/563016223/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding" />
</div>

<!-- END CLASS="STORYTITLE" -->
<div class="story-tools">
      <div id="primaryaudio" class="storylocation linkLocation">
            <article id="res563019865" class="bucketwrap resaudio primaryaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module">
      <h2 class="audio-module-title">Scientists In Houston Tell A Story Of Concrete, Rain And Destruction</h2>
   <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"563016223:563019865","available":true,"duration":320,"title":"Scientists In Houston Tell A Story Of Concrete, Rain And Destruction","audioUrl":"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/me\/2017\/11\/20171109_me_houston-following_the_water.mp3?orgId=1&topicId=1025&d=320&p=3&story=563016223&siteplayer=true","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2017\/11\/09\/563016223\/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding","slug":"Environment","program":"morning edition","affiliation":"","song":"","artist":"","album":"","track":0,"type":"segment","subtype":"other"}' data-audio-metrics='[]'>
        <div class="audio-module-controls">
            <a class="audio-module-listen" href="https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2017/11/20171109_me_houston-following_the_water.mp3?orgId=1&amp;topicId=1025&amp;d=320&amp;p=3&amp;story=563016223&amp;siteplayer=true&amp;dl=1">
                <b class="audio-module-listen-inner">
                    <b class="audio-module-listen-icon icn-play"></b>
                    <b class="audio-module-listen-text">
                        <b class="audio-module-cta">Listen</b>
                        <b class="audio-module-listen-duration">
                            <span>&middot; </span>
                            <span>5:20</span>
                        </b>
                    </b>
                </b>
            </a>

                <time class="audio-module-duration" datetime="P5M,20S">5:20</time>
        </div>


</div>

   
    <div class="audio-module-tools">
        <button class="audio-module-tools-toggle"  data-metrics='{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;audio actions&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;open more options&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:null,&quot;noninteraction&quot;:true}' >
            <b class="icn-toggle"></b>
            <b class="label">Toggle more options</b>
        </button>
        <ul class="audio-module-more-tools">
                <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-download"><a href="https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2017/11/20171109_me_houston-following_the_water.mp3?orgId=1&amp;topicId=1025&amp;d=320&amp;p=3&amp;story=563016223&amp;siteplayer=true&amp;dl=1"  data-metrics='{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;audio actions&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;download audio&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;563016223&quot;,&quot;noninteraction&quot;:true}'  ><b class="icn-download"></b><b class="audio-tool-label">Download</b></a>
                </li>

                <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-embed" >
                    <button data-embed-url="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/563016223/563019865"  data-metrics='{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;audio actions&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;embed audio&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;563016223&quot;,&quot;noninteraction&quot;:true}' ><b class="button-inner"><b class="icn-embed"></b><b
                            class="audio-tool-label">Embed</b></b></button>

                    <div class="audio-embed-overlay">
                        <button class="btn-close"></button>
                        <label class="embed-label">
                            <b class="icn-embed"></b>
                            <b class="label">Embed</b>
                            <input class="embed-url embed-url-no-touch" readonly
                                   value="<iframe src=&quot;https://www.npr.org/player/embed/563016223/563019865&quot; width=&quot;100%&quot; height=&quot;290&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot; title=&quot;NPR embedded audio player&quot;></iframe>">
                        </label>

                        <b class="embed-url embed-url-touch">
                            <code><b class="punctuation">&lt;</b>iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/563016223/563019865" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"&gt;</code>
                        </b>

                    </div>
                </li>

                <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-transcript">
                  <a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=563016223"  data-metrics='{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;audio actions&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;click transcript&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;563016223&quot;,&quot;noninteraction&quot;:true}' >
                    <b class="icn-transcript"></b>
                    <b class="audio-tool-label">Transcript</b>
                  </a>
                </li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>
</article>
   </div>
   <div class="share-tools share-tools--primary" aria-label="Share tools">
            <ul>
                  <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--facebook"><button class="fbStory563016223" data-share-facebook='{"storyId": 563016223 }'  data-metrics='{"action":"Click Facebook","category":"Share Tools","label":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2017\/11\/09\/563016223\/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Facebook</b></button></li>
         <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--twitter"><button class="story563016223" data-share-twitter='{"storyId": 563016223 }'  data-metrics='{"action":"Click Twitter","category":"Share Tools","label":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2017\/11\/09\/563016223\/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Twitter</b></button></li>
         <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--flipboard"><button class="story563016223" data-share-flipboard='{"storyId": 563016223 }'  data-metrics='{"action":"Click Flipboard","category":"Share Tools","label":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2017\/11\/09\/563016223\/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Flipboard</b></button></li>
         <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--email"><button class='share-tools__email-link' data-story-id='563016223'  data-metrics='{"action":"Click Email a Friend","category":"Share Tools","label":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2017\/11\/09\/563016223\/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Email</b></button></li>
      </ul>
   </div>
   
<!-- END CLASS="SHARE-TOOLS SHARE-TOOLS--PRIMARY" ARIA-LABEL="SHARE TOOLS" -->
</div>

<!-- END CLASS="STORY-TOOLS" -->
<div id="story-meta" class="story-meta has-byline">
      <div class="story-meta__one">
            <div class="dateblock">
    <time datetime="2017-11-09T07:53:00-05:00">
            <span class="date">November 9, 2017</span><span class="time">7:53 AM ET</span>
    </time>
</div>      <div class="program-block">
                  Heard on          <a href="https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/2017/11/09/562990556/morning-edition-for-november-9-2017">Morning Edition</a>
      </div>
      
<!-- END CLASS="PROGRAM-BLOCK" -->
   </div>
   
<!-- END CLASS="STORY-META__ONE" -->
   <div class="story-meta__two">
            <div id="storybyline" class="storybyline-wrap linkLocation">
                  <div class="bucketwrap byline" id="res563016297" previewTitle="bylines">
                        <div class="byline-container--block">
                              <div class="byline byline--block byline--has-link" aria-label="Byline">
    <div class="byline__photo">
      <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/2100689/christopher-joyce" rel="author"  data-metrics='{"action":"Click Byline","category":"Story Metadata"}' >
        <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2011/12/30/chrisjoyce_4_sq-6400cfb7e806549409f12edc3aeb28ad586182a2-s100-c85.jpg" class="img"  alt="Christopher Joyce 2010" />
      </a>
    </div>

  <p class="byline__name byline__name--block">
    <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/2100689/christopher-joyce" rel="author"  data-metrics='{"action":"Click Byline","category":"Story Metadata"}' >
      Christopher Joyce
    </a>
  </p>

    <a class="byline__social-handle byline__social-handle--5" href="https://www.twitter.com/christophjoyce"  data-metrics='{"action":"Click Social Handle","category":"Story Metadata"}' >
      Twitter
    </a>
</div>
            </div>
         </div>
         
<!-- END CLASS="BUCKETWRAP BYLINE" ID="RES563016297" PREVIEWTITLE="BYLINES" -->
      </div>
   </div>
   
<!-- END CLASS="STORY-META__TWO" -->
</div>

<!-- END ID="STORY-META" CLASS="STORY-META HAS-BYLINE" -->
<div id="storytext" class="storytext storylocation linkLocation">
      <div id="res563040538" class="bucketwrap image large">
            <div class="imagewrap" data-crop-type="">
    <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/11/09/addicks-flooding-1_custom-e57e4f11c64db7d91f401ea381bf211f09b207b3-s1100-c15.jpg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/11/09/addicks-flooding-1_custom-e57e4f11c64db7d91f401ea381bf211f09b207b3-s1100.jpg" class="img lazyOnLoad"  alt="" />
        <div class="enlarge-options">
            <a class="enlargelink" href="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/11/09/addicks-flooding-1_enl-e57e4f11c64db7d91f401ea381bf211f09b207b3-s1200.jpg">Enlarge this image</a>
        </div>
</div>
<div class="credit-caption">
    <div class="caption-wrap">
        <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption">
            <p>
                Hurricane Harvey dropped record rainfall on Houston neighborhoods like this one, near Addicks Reservoir.
                
                <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit">
                    
                    David J. Phillip/AP
                    
                </b>
                <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b>
            </p>
        </div>


            <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b>
    </div>

    <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit">
        
        David J. Phillip/AP
        
    </span>
</div>
<div class="enlarge_measure">
    <div class="img_wrap">
        <img data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/11/09/addicks-flooding-1_enl-e57e4f11c64db7d91f401ea381bf211f09b207b3-s1200.jpg" alt="" />
    </div>
</div>
<div class="enlarge_html">
    <div class="image_data">
        <p class="caption">Hurricane Harvey dropped record rainfall on Houston neighborhoods like this one, near Addicks Reservoir.</p>
        <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit">
            
            David J. Phillip/AP
            
        </span>
    </div>
</div>
   </div>
   <p>Hurricane Harvey was the worst flood in Houston's history. Scientists and citizens are still piecing together why it was so bad, but it's becoming clear that a lot of the damage comes down to how people have built America's fourth-largest city.</p>   <p>You can see the problem from your car. Houston is a sprawling web of strip malls and 10-lane freeways.</p>   <p>Hydrologist Jeff East stands under one of those freeways, beneath an overpass and above the east fork of the San Jacinto River. The river is more like a trickling stream, 20 feet below. But East points to a line of seeds and debris in the grass by the highway. "Actually there's a high water mark over here," he says.</p>   <p>Debris left at the high-water mark is like a bathtub ring around Harris County. Along with gauges in the San Jacinto River, it shows flood levels never seen before. "This is the highest that it's been since we've been gauging the site since the 1940s," East says.</p>   <p><strong>Disaster downstream</strong></p>   <p>The San Jacinto is a perfect example of what went wrong. Normally it's pretty tame; the flow is about 30 cubic feet per second (a cubic foot is about enough to fill four basketballs). But during Harvey, the river was running at 80,000 cubic feet of water per second — headed south toward the city.</p>   <aside id="ad-backstage-wrap" aria-label="advertisement">
    

    <div id="ad-backstage-News_Science_Environment" class="ad-backstage" data-ad-config='{"network":"\/6735\/n6735","site":"NPR","zone":"News_Science_Environment","targets":{"testserver":"false","storyId":"563016223","program":"Morning_Edition"},"location":"backstage","deferred":false,"isBetweenContent":true}'></div>

</aside>   <aside id="ad-mobilebackfill-wrap" aria-label="advertisement">
    

    <div id="ad-mobilebackfill-News_Science_Environment" class="ad-mobilebackfill" data-ad-config='{"network":"\/6735\/n6735","site":"NPRMOBILE","zone":"News_Science_Environment","targets":{"testserver":"false","storyId":"563016223","program":"Morning_Edition"},"location":"mobilebackfill","deferred":false,"isBetweenContent":true}'></div>

</aside>   <p>The San Jacinto is just one of many streams and rivers that flow into Houston. The city is kind of like a drain in a huge bathtub. People have known that for years. In the 1940s, after huge floods, the city tried to stop the water before it reached Houston. Engineers built two reservoirs, called Addicks and Barker.</p>   <p>Richard Hyde used to live near Addicks reservoir. Hyde's a retired petroleum geologist. He says that during Harvey, his house filled up fast. "I took a look out back and the reservoir was coming up on the back deck and heading for the sliding door window," he recalls. He got out when it reached the electrical outlets in his house. "I got 6 feet of water in the house," he says.</p>   <p>In the apartment he's living in now, he shows me a map of the area from the 1970s. To the west it's prairie and rice fields, the kind of land that soaks up rain. In a current map, it's now paved — houses, shopping malls, roads. That pushes more water into Houston.</p>   <div id="res563034355" class="bucketwrap image large">
            <div class="imagewrap" data-crop-type="">
    <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/11/09/texas-flooding-1-ebd6eec06405b32aebf2f5af5039edc2e9b080f6-s1100-c15.jpg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/11/09/texas-flooding-1-ebd6eec06405b32aebf2f5af5039edc2e9b080f6-s1100.jpg" class="img lazyOnLoad"  alt="" />
        <div class="enlarge-options">
            <a class="enlargelink" href="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/11/09/texas-flooding-1-ebd6eec06405b32aebf2f5af5039edc2e9b080f6-s1200.jpg">Enlarge this image</a>
        </div>
</div>
<div class="credit-caption">
    <div class="caption-wrap">
        <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption">
            <p>
                Mary Wilkins stands inside her damaged house in Houston's Meyerland neighborhood.
                
                <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit">
                    
                    Chris Joyce/NPR
                    
                </b>
                <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b>
            </p>
        </div>


            <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b>
    </div>

    <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit">
        
        Chris Joyce/NPR
        
    </span>
</div>
<div class="enlarge_measure">
    <div class="img_wrap">
        <img data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/11/09/texas-flooding-1-ebd6eec06405b32aebf2f5af5039edc2e9b080f6-s1200.jpg" alt="" />
    </div>
</div>
<div class="enlarge_html">
    <div class="image_data">
        <p class="caption">Mary Wilkins stands inside her damaged house in Houston's Meyerland neighborhood.</p>
        <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit">
            
            Chris Joyce/NPR
            
        </span>
    </div>
</div>
   </div>
   <p>Years ago, there was talk of building a third reservoir. "They did not build the third reservoir, which was so badly needed. They built houses," says Hyde. "Houses get tax money and reservoirs don't."</p>   <p>At Harvey's peak, the reservoirs couldn't handle the water. Engineers opened spillways and water shot downstream toward the city through concrete-lined bayous. Runoff from paved roads and neighborhoods ran into the bayous as well.</p>   <p>One of those, Brays Bayou, flooded a neighborhood called Meyerland. It's upscale, but that didn't protect it. Ruined drywall and carpeting remains piled on the sidewalks.</p>   <p>Mary and Randy Wilkins' house is two blocks from the Bayou. "It's a wreck," says Mary Wilkins. Fans are running, big industrial size ones, drying out the mildewed walls — or what's left of them. They're gone up to chest height; it's just wooden studs. Most of the furniture is gone. "That couch was like floating throughout the house," she says.</p>   <p>Randy Wilkins says they've flooded three times now: "2015, '16 and '17 we flooded."</p>   <p>"Every year," adds Mary Wilkins. "It just blows my mind." They say Harvey was the worst flood by far. Mary Wilkins blames overdevelopment outside the city. "They've just let them build without accounting for how their drainage was going to be addressed," she says, "so it just keeps coming downstream ... from rice field to concrete, where's the water going to go?" The Wilkinses have rebuilt twice before after floods; this time they're selling it for whatever they can get.</p>   <p><strong>Fixing the flooding</strong></p>   <p><a href="http://www.tamug.edu/mars/Faculty%20Biographies/SamuelDavidBrody.html">Sam Brody</a>, a flood scientist at Texas A&M University, says Houston has grown to a size where it can't handle these kinds of record rainfalls. "We're piling in people with roads and rooftops and parking lots into these low-lying coastal areas and exacerbating these problems," he says. "And that is an urban, human development, built-environment problem."</p>   <p>You can't move Houston. So what's to be done? Officials are now talking about building that third reservoir and demolishing houses that repeatedly flood.</p>   <p>Brody's team is advising those officials. He says the city needs more radical changes, like requiring new homes to be built 3 feet above flood level. He says yes, preparing for future floods will be expensive — but cheaper than paying up after the next one.</p>
</div>
 <!--googleoff: index--><div class="correction">
      <h5 class="hdr">Correction<span class="date"> Nov. 10, 2017</span></h5>
   <p><p>In the audio, as in a previous Web version of this story, we compare a cubic foot of water to the volume contained within a basketball. A cubic foot of water is, in fact, closer to the volume of four basketballs.</p></p>
</div>
<div class="share-tools share-tools--secondary" aria-label="Share tools">
      <ul>
            <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--facebook"><button class="fbStory563016223" data-share-facebook='{"storyId": 563016223 }'  data-metrics='{"action":"Click Facebook","category":"Share Tools","label":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2017\/11\/09\/563016223\/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Facebook</b></button></li>
      <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--twitter"><button class="story563016223" data-share-twitter='{"storyId": 563016223 }'  data-metrics='{"action":"Click Twitter","category":"Share Tools","label":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2017\/11\/09\/563016223\/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Twitter</b></button></li>
      <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--flipboard"><button class="story563016223" data-share-flipboard='{"storyId": 563016223 }'  data-metrics='{"action":"Click Flipboard","category":"Share Tools","label":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2017\/11\/09\/563016223\/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Flipboard</b></button></li>
      <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--email"><button class='share-tools__email-link' data-story-id='563016223'  data-metrics='{"action":"Click Email a Friend","category":"Share Tools","label":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2017\/11\/09\/563016223\/exploring-why-hurricane-harvey-caused-houstons-worst-fooding"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Email</b></button></li>
   </ul>
</div>

<!-- END CLASS="SHARE-TOOLS SHARE-TOOLS--SECONDARY" ARIA-LABEL="SHARE TOOLS" -->
<div id="newsletter-acquisition-callout-data" data-newsletter="{&quot;newsletterId&quot;:&quot;best-of-npr&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Best of NPR&quot;,&quot;marketingHeader&quot;:&quot;Get The Stories That Grabbed Us This Week&quot;,&quot;frequency&quot;:&quot;every week&quot;,&quot;shortDescription&quot;:&quot;Delivered to your inbox, these are the NPR stories you don&#039;t want to miss.&quot;,&quot;contentImage&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2015\/10\/13\/bestof-newsletter_custom.png&quot;,&quot;staticMarkupDir&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;brandingDir&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;brandingLink&quot;:&quot;&quot;}">
   </div>

<!-- END ID="NEWSLETTER-ACQUISITION-CALLOUT-DATA" DATA-NEWSLETTER="{&QUOT;NEWSLETTERID&QUOT;:&QUOT;BEST-OF-NPR&QUOT;,&QUOT;TITLE&QUOT;:&QUOT;BEST OF NPR&QUOT;,&QUOT;MARKETINGHEADER&QUOT;:&QUOT;GET THE STORIES THAT GRABBED US THIS WEEK&QUOT;,&QUOT;FREQUENCY&QUOT;:&QUOT;EVERY WEEK&QUOT;,&QUOT;SHORTDESCRIPTION&QUOT;:&QUOT;DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX, THESE ARE THE NPR STORIES YOU DON&#039;T WANT TO MISS.&QUOT;,&QUOT;CONTENTIMAGE&QUOT;:&QUOT;HTTPS:\/\/MEDIA.NPR.ORG\/ASSETS\/IMG\/2015\/10\/13\/BESTOF-NEWSLETTER_CUSTOM.PNG&QUOT;,&QUOT;STATICMARKUPDIR&QUOT;:&QUOT;&QUOT;,&QUOT;BRANDINGDIR&QUOT;:&QUOT;&QUOT;,&QUOT;BRANDINGLINK&QUOT;:&QUOT;&QUOT;}" -->
<div id="callout-end-of-story-mount">
   </div>

<!-- END ID="CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT" -->
<aside id="end-of-story-recommendations-mount" class="recommended-stories" aria-label="recommended stories"></aside>
<!-- END ID="END-OF-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT" CLASS="RECOMMENDED-STORIES" ARIA-LABEL="RECOMMENDED STORIES" -->
</article><header class="contentheader contentheader--two" data-metrics='{"category":"Environment"}' ></header></section>   <div id="main-sidebar">
            <aside id="ad-standard-wrap" aria-label="advertisement">
    

    <div id="ad-standard-News_Science_Environment" class="ad-standard" data-ad-config='{"network":"\/6735\/n6735","site":"NPR","zone":"News_Science_Environment","targets":{"testserver":"false","storyId":"563016223","program":"Morning_Edition"},"location":"standard","deferred":false,"isBetweenContent":false}'></div>
    <p class="left">NPR thanks our sponsors</p><p class="right"><a href="/about-npr/186948703/corporate-sponsorship">Become an NPR sponsor</a></p>

</aside>
   </div>
   
<!-- END ID="MAIN-SIDEBAR" -->
</div>

<!-- END ID="WRAPPER" -->
<aside id="ad-adhesion-wrap" aria-label="advertisement">
    

    <div id="ad-adhesion-News_Science_Environment" class="ad-adhesion" data-ad-config='{"network":"\/6735\/n6735","site":"NPRMOBILE","zone":"News_Science_Environment","targets":{"testserver":"false","storyId":"563016223","program":"Morning_Edition"},"location":"adhesion","deferred":false,"isBetweenContent":false}'></div>

</aside><footer id="nprfooter" class="nprfooter" role="contentinfo" aria-label="NPR footer"><div class="footer-wrapper">
      <div class="primary" data-metrics-category="Global Footer" data-metrics-label="Footer">
    <ul>
        <li class="homepage" data-metrics-action="Click Homepage" data-metrics-all>
            <a href="/">Homepage</a>
        </li>
        <li class="news has-subnav" data-metrics-action="Click News" data-metrics-all>
            <a href="/sections/news/">News</a>
            <ul>
                <li><a href="/sections/national/">National</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/world/">World</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/politics/">Politics</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/business/">Business</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/technology/">Technology</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/science/">Science</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/health/">Health</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/codeswitch/">Race &amp; Culture</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/ed/">Education</a></li>
            </ul>
        </li>
        <li class="artslife has-subnav" data-metrics-action="Click Arts &amp; Life" data-metrics-all>
            <a href="/sections/arts/">Arts &amp; Life</a>
            <ul>
                <li><a href="/books/">Books</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/movies/">Movies</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/pop-culture/">Pop Culture</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/food/">Food</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/art-design/">Art &amp; Design</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/performing-arts/">Performing Arts</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/pictureshow">Photography</a></li>
            </ul>
        </li>
        <li class="music has-subnav" data-metrics-action="Click Music" data-metrics-all>
            <a href="/music/">Music</a>
            <ul>
                <li><a href="/series/98679384/first-listen">First Listen</a></li>
                <li><a href="/series/122356178/songs-we-love">Songs We Love</a></li>
                <li><a href="/series/100920965/music-articles/">Music Articles</a></li>
                <li><a href="/series/tiny-desk-concerts/">Tiny Desk</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/music-videos/">Videos</a></li>
            </ul>
        </li>
        <li class="programs" data-metrics-action="Click Programs" data-metrics-all>
            <a href="/programs/">Programs</a>
        </li>
        <li class="about has-subnav" data-metrics-action="Click About" data-metrics-all>
            <a href="/about/">About</a>
            <ul>
                <li><a href="/about-npr/192827079/overview-and-history">NPR Overview</a></li>
                <li><a href="/about-npr/178660742/public-radio-finances">NPR Finances</a></li>
                <li><a href="/about-npr/179803822/people-at-npr">People at NPR</a></li>
                <li><a href="/series/750002/support-public-radio">Support NPR</a></li>
                <li><a href="http://tours.npr.org/npr/Home/">Visit NPR</a></li>
                <li><a href="/series/750003/press-room/">Press Room</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/npr-extra/">NPR Extra Blog</a></li>
                <li><a href="/series/750004/careers">Careers at NPR</a></li>
                <li><a href="/templates/corrections/corrections.php">Corrections</a></li>
                <li><a href="/sections/ombudsman/">NPR Ombudsman</a></li>
                <li><a href="/about-npr/179881519/rights-and-permissions-information">Permissions</a></li>
            </ul>
        </li>
    </ul>
</div>

<div class="secondary">
    <p class="copyright"><span class="copy-year"></span></p>
    <ul>
        <li><a href="https://help.npr.org">Help</a></li>
        <li id="footerContact"><a href="https://www.npr.org/contact">Contact</a></li>
        <li><a href="/about-npr/179876898/terms-of-use">Terms of Use</a></li>
        <li><a href="/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">Privacy</a></li>
        <li class="sponsorship-choices"><a href="/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy#opting-out-of-cookies-and-web-beacons">Sponsorship Choices</a></li>
        <li><a href="http://thin.npr.org/">Text Only</a></li>
    </ul>
</div>
</div>
</footer><script type="text/javascript">
   (function () {
    var loadPageJs = function () { webpackJsonp([71,22],{0:function(n,t,c){n.exports=c(1271)},1271:function(n,t,c){"use strict";c.p=NPR.serverVars.webpackPublicPath,function(){var n=2,t=function(){--n<1&&function(n){c(21),c(1339),c(139),c(369),c(107),c(262),c(161),c(1344),c(160),c(1343),c(1342),c(583),c(165)}(c)}.bind(this);c.e(0,t),c.e(2,t)}.call(this)}}); };
    if (document.readyState === 'complete') {
        loadPageJs();
    } else {
        window.addEventListener('load', function load() {
            window.removeEventListener('load', load, false);
            loadPageJs();
        });
    }
})();
</script>
<div d="ttdUniversalPixelTag53f1888d7923458abf666fadbafb67b0" style="display:none">
   <script src="https://js.adsrvr.org/up_loader.1.1.0.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
    (function(global) {
        if (typeof TTDUniversalPixelApi === 'function') {
            var universalPixelApi = new TTDUniversalPixelApi();
            universalPixelApi.init("vflsioo", ["gkjeidp"], "https://insight.adsrvr.org/track/up", "ttdUniversalPixelTag53f1888d7923458abf666fadbafb67b0");
        }
    })(this);
</script>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
   /* <![CDATA[ */
var google_conversion_id = 824814092;
var google_custom_params = window.google_tag_params;
var google_remarketing_only = true;
/* ]]> */
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/conversion.js">
   </script>
<noscript><div style="display:inline;">
<img height="1" width="1" style="border-style:none;" alt="" src="//googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/824814092/?guid=ON&amp;script=0"/>
</div></noscript></main><noscript><iframe style="display:none;padding:0;margin:0;" width="0" height="0" src="//20655831p.rfihub.com/ca.html?rb=3035&ca=20501671&ra=gtmcb"></iframe></noscript><noscript><iframe><img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1621557368158968&ev=PageView&noscript=1" /></iframe></noscript><script type='text/javascript'>
    var _sf_async_config = _sf_async_config || {};
    /** CONFIGURATION START **/
    _sf_async_config.uid = '18888';
    _sf_async_config.domain = NPR.ServerConstants.cbHost;
    _sf_async_config.useCanonical = true;

    /** CONFIGURATION END **/
    (function() {
        function loadChartbeat() {
            window._sf_endpt = (new Date()).getTime();
            var e = document.createElement('script');
            e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript');
            e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript');
            e.setAttribute('src', 'https://static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js');
            document.body.appendChild(e);
        }
        var oldonload = window.onload;
        window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ?
                loadChartbeat : function() {
            oldonload();
            loadChartbeat();
        };
    })();
</script></body></html>