This case was developed entirely from publicly available sources, including Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulatory materials, Harris County Flood Control District reports, National Weather Service assessments, Harris County government records and peer-reviewed academic scholarship. No primary data collection or disguising of information was required. The case has been classroom tested in an upper-division undergraduate decision-making course.
This case examines how Harris County, Texas, confronted flood risk governance challenges following Hurricane Harvey (Blake & Zelinsky, 2018; National Weather Service, 2018). Despite the availability of advanced local flood modeling through the county-led MAAPnext initiative, local officials faced institutional constraints tied to federal floodplain maps and insurance rules administered by FEMA (Harris County Flood Control District, 2026b; Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2021). At the same time, residents were required to make decisions about rebuilding, relocation and insurance under conditions of conflicting and incomplete risk signals, shaped by FEMA flood maps, evolving insurance pricing under Risk Rating 2.0 and changing local regulations (Congressional Research Service, 2021; Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2026).
This case study was developed for upper-division undergraduate and graduate students in business and public policy programs. It is particularly well-suited for students with prior exposure to basic probability and statistical concepts and structured decision-making approaches, but does not require technical knowledge of hydrology, flood modeling or public policy. The case has been classroom-tested in a decision-making course and works well in classes with 20–50 students, using small-group discussion and stakeholder role assignments. It is especially appropriate for MBA and senior undergraduate students in business programs who have prior exposure to structured decision-making tools. The case may also be suitable for strategic management, risk management, project management or public policy courses, depending on the instructor’s emphasis.
