The plain version

On the Gulf Coast, drainage isn't a convenience — it's survival, and the region learned that the hard way in Harvey. The city maintains local streets and storm drains through Public Works, but the big channels that carry water off the coastal plain belong to the Harris County Flood Control District, a separate government with its own budget and bond program. When your street floods, "whose job is this" is usually split between the two — which is exactly why it's worth knowing before the next storm, not during it.

This page gathers who's responsible for drainage at each level, what projects are underway, and how the city warns and responds when water rises. Every figure names its document; anything unsourced stays off.