Join the Regional Flood Planning Group as a Small Business Representative
The Region 2 Lower Red-Sulphur-Cypress Regional Flood Planning Group (RFPG) is soliciting nominations to fill one (1) voting position on the Region 2 Lower Red-Sulphur-Cypress RFPG. Nominees who either operate in or have interests in the Region 2 Lower Red-Sulphur-Cypress RFPG are being solicited to represent the following interest group: 1 Seat – Small Business.
Click here to read the full notice, download the application, and to view the Region 2 Map.
Seeking Public Input on the Region 2 Technical Memorandum for the 2028 Regional Flood Plan
Click the button below to review the Region 2 Technical Memorandum and share your public comments before the November 28, 2025 deadline.
Notice to the Public: Second Planning Cycle Regional Flood Plans
The RFPG is seeking participation from everyone affected by flooding. The RFPG will close data collection for the Second Planning Cycle Regional Flood Plans in Spring of 2025 to allow sufficient time for compilation and assessment in the development of the 2028 regional plan.
Welcome to Region 2’s Flood Planning Hub, where we’re part of Texas’ groundbreaking initiative to protect our communities from flooding. Let’s walk through how we got here and what it means for our future.
The Wake-Up Call
Nature has a way of demanding attention. Between 2015 and 2017, Texas faced devastating floods that changed everything. The 2015 floods alone claimed 43 lives and caused $1.9 billion in property damage. Then came Hurricane Harvey in 2017, dropping over 40 inches of rain in just days around Houston. The toll was staggering: 68 lives lost, 39,000 people displaced, and $125 billion in damages.
The Birth of a Solution
These disasters sparked action. In 2019, Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 8, launching the state’s first-ever comprehensive flood planning program. The old approach of letting local agencies handle flooding independently wasn’t cutting it anymore – we needed a unified strategy.
How It Works Now
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) divided the state into 15 regions based on river basins. Each region, including ours, has its own Regional Flood Planning Group (RFPG) made up of local experts: Water district representatives, environmental advocates, business owners, and government officials. We work together to ensure that solutions in one area don’t create problems in another.
About Region 2
Region 2 encompasses all or part of 19 counties and spans an area of 9,161 square miles. The area stretches from Gainesville in Cooke County into the northwest to Waskom (east of Marshall) to the southeast and up to Texarkana at the northeast corner. The region borders Oklahoma to the north and Arkansas and Louisiana to the east. Only the lower portion of the Red River is included, with Region 1 covering the upper Red River. The entirety of the Sulphur River and Cypress Creek basins within Texas are included in the region. Both of these streams are tributaries of the Red River in Louisiana.
Key Milestones
2019
Texas Legislature
Passed Senate Bill 8
2020
TWDB established 15 Regional Flood Planning Groups
2023 (January)
First regional flood plans submitted
2023 (July)
Amended regional plans submitted
2024 (March)
TWDB approved all 15 regional plans
2024 (May-June)
Public comment period for State Flood Plan
2024 (August)
TWDB adopted final
2024 State Flood Plan
2024 (September)
Plan delivered to legislature
Looking Forward
This isn’t a one-and-done effort. Every five years, we’ll update our plans to reflect changing conditions and priorities. Want to be part of this historic effort? Join us at our next meeting or share your thoughts about flood planning in our region. Together, we’re creating solutions that protect all Texans.