Following the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Harvey, Jaimlyn collaborated with Texas A&M University, the City of Friendswood, and the Friendswood City Planning Council to investigate the role of sound walls (noise barriers) in exacerbating overland flooding in residential neighborhoods.

The study focused on neighborhoods situated between perpendicular sound walls and nearby rivers, where anomalous flood patterns were observed during the storm. Using hydrological modeling and field data, the research team confirmed that impermeable sound walls increased water elevation by up to 8 inches in homes situated upland from the walls. This artificially redirected water flow toward higher ground and reduced the buffer between homes and the riverbanks.

In addition to upstream impacts, the study found that homes located immediately downstream—adjacent to the river and parallel to sound wall gaps—also experienced intensified flooding due to water being funneled through constrained spaces. These findings highlighted the unintended hydrologic consequences of rigid flood-unaware infrastructure.

The results were formally presented to the Friendswood City Planning Council and disseminated throughout the Greater Houston and Galveston region. The findings are now being integrated into local city planning guidelines and flood mitigation construction standards to reduce future vulnerability.

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Project Deliverables:

• Collaborative Research Study with Texas A&M and City of Friendswood

• Hydrologic Modeling of Sound Wall Impact on Flood Dynamics

• Findings Report Presented to City Planning Council

• Regional Distribution of Results Across Greater Houston-Galveston

• Policy Recommendations for Flood-Resilient Infrastructure Design

• Technical Brief on Impermeable Barrier Effects During Major Storm Events