Organizers primarily work to improve the quality of life in underdeveloped extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) subdivisions known as colonias. Although significant progress has been made over the years, many of these communities have historically lacked essential infrastructure. Under Texas law, colonias are defined as areas that currently lack—or once lacked—basic public services such as potable water, paved roads, wastewater systems, drainage infrastructure, and solid waste disposal. Inadequate drainage systems have also left residents disproportionately vulnerable to flooding, resulting in recurring property damage, public health concerns, and economic hardship. While LUPE has successfully advocated for infrastructure improvements in many communities, progress has often been slowed by bureaucratic obstacles and, more significantly, chronic underinvestment in these historically underserved areas. Strengthening our ability to document and communicate these challenges is essential. By collecting historical flood data, visualizing flood events through maps and geospatial analysis, and using data-driven evidence to identify root causes and potential solutions, we can build a stronger case for investment, improve public understanding, and more effectively advocate for resilient infrastructure in the communities we serve.
Groundwork USA is the support organization for the Groundwork Network, comprised of 20 individual environmental justice affiliates, many embedded in communities where flood vulnerability is acute and documentation of historical flooding is limited or inaccessible. Right now, our affiliates largely rely on anecdotal evidence when demonstrating flood incidence. GWUSA is limited in its ability to produce detailed urban flood models, as these are labor- and CPU-intensive to construct. We often rely on imperfect FEMA flood hazard maps that don't capture pluvial flooding. Bringing the technical expertise to produce historical flood maps into our GIS team would fundamentally shift our ability to support residents in the fight for flood justice. A consistent approach to building community-controlled flood datasets across our Network would allow affiliates to compare flood histories, identify disparities in exposure and vulnerability, and establish data-informed narratives that build coalitions and bring climate resilience resources to their neighborhoods.
Having lived in multiple cities throughout my life, I have witnessed first-hand how flooding has affected them all in various ways. From Lahore, Pakistan to Houston, TX to Albuquerque, NM, and now in Milwaukee, WI, all cities suffered from same flooding issues, especially with an increase in climate change related storms. These issues were all tied to the question of where will the water go? With poor drainage infrastructure, rapid urbanization, urban deforestation, and increase in weather events have been key in creating flooding a reality for many within the cities I've lived, even here in Milwaukee. Communities across the board have been advocating for better funding towards projects that will mitigate flood related disasters, which the lack thereof has increased the collapse of infrastructure built to withstand massive flooding events. With better funding this translates to tested green infrastructure from bioswales, rain gardens, permeable surfaces, repairing of existing infrastructure, and more to be built to improve flood resiliency of communities instead of letting them fend for themselves. Increased knowledge on historical flood exposure data would allow for advocacy groups to better understand where they live, their homes are being built, and how insurance rates will be affected by flooding. Further it will show how, especially in coastal cities, will sea level increase affect communities. This will aide in better advocacy campaigns, strategic collaborative efforts in-between organizations, and create alternative systems that will benefit from available data.
