AUSTIN – Today Texas A&M University’s Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas (IDRT) announced the official launch of the Texas Disaster Information System (TDIS), a centralized, interactive platform that helps Texas better prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters. The portal was developed by IDRT in partnership with the Texas General Land Office (GLO), Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM). TDIS addresses the long-standing challenge of fragmented and inaccessible disaster-related data across the state. The portal provides public-sector employees, Texas communities, academic institutions and researchers with access to tools to make more informed decisions before and after disasters. To access the portal, visit https://portal.cloud.tdis.io/.
“Texas is no stranger to hurricanes, storms and flood events, but we are learning from previous events to forge the path to a continuously more resilient future,” said Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. “Using complex data from past events to develop publicly available flood models with access to all online through the Texas Disaster Information System will help our communities increase efficiencies, save money and make more informed decisions related to planning, preparedness, response and recovery.”
The TDIS data platform incorporates comprehensive flood models and other data developed by the GLO through the Combined River Basin Flood Studies (RBFS) and other disaster recovery and mitigation funded projects. Through the RBFS, the GLO completed 67 flood models covering 22,635 square miles, which provides updated and more detailed representation of existing flood risk for 51 counties. Previously, available flood modeling was individual, disconnected models, outdated, or nonexistent. Through the GLO’s massive effort, updated, consolidated, comprehensive flood models are now publicly available to help local and state decision makers with protecting Texans from future floods. Additional data continues to be added to the system on an ongoing basis to continuously update flood modeling capabilities.
The TDIS portal provides access to tools, including:
- Buyers Aware – A free tool for the public that reports flood and fire risk at the property level in areas of Texas impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
- Data & Models Query Tool (DMQT) – Allows users to search and download state flood modeling data from GLO’s Combined River Basin Flood Studies and TWDB’s State Flood Plan to help reduce flood risk.
- Measuring, Mapping, and Managing Flood Risk (M3FR) – A reference tool that provides models and risk communication best practices to support disaster preparation and planning.
- Model Management and Storage Solution (MS2) – A library that stores and protects flood models and provides access through TWDB’s State Flood Plan Viewer.
- TDIS Metadata – A portal for creating and uploading metadata for hydraulic and hydrologic models.
“Through partnerships with state agencies and communities across Texas, we’ve created a resource that not only organizes critical data but turns that information into decision support tools for disaster resilience,” said Dr. Samuel Brody, Director of IDRT and a professor at Texas A&M University. “At its core, the TDIS portal is about helping Texans. Whether it’s a city planner, policy maker or a family considering a new home, TDIS puts vital information at their fingertips so they can make decisions with greater confidence.”
The Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas (IDRT) was established in 2020 by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents following legislation by the 86th Texas Legislature. With a vision for a disaster-resilient Texas, the Institute works to bridge the gap between research and decision-making. IDRT provides innovative research, data analytics, training and policy tools to help leaders, collaborators and communities better prepare for and respond to natural disasters.
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