Building community trust and gathering meaningful input for Harris County’s most ambitious flood mitigation initiative
Timeline: 6 Months
Scope: 11 Watersheds
Communicating a Complex Federal Process to Diverse Communities
The SAFER Study represents one of the most ambitious flood mitigation efforts in Harris County history — a multi-year federal feasibility study addressing 11 watersheds simultaneously in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Harris County Flood Control District brought on Hollaway to lead public engagement strategy, creative development, and meeting coordination. The scope was significant: build an engagement program that could translate complex federal planning processes for residents across diverse communities, many still carrying the weight of Hurricane Harvey.
Strategy Built on Accessibility and Clarity
Hollaway developed a visual identity system and engagement strategy that made technical flood concepts accessible without oversimplifying them.
Custom Illustration System
Character-driven icons and a five-phase timeline graphic that transformed dense engineering concepts into approachable visuals.
Multilingual Materials
Complete materials suite produced in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese — reflecting Harris County’s diverse population.
Multi-Channel Outreach
Coordinated digital ads, email campaigns, social media, newspaper notices, and precinct coordination to reach targeted watershed communities.
Accessible Public Meetings
10 public meetings with live translation, ASL interpretation, and open-house formats that encouraged one-on-one engagement.
Making the Study Accessible
A video explaining the scope, goals, and timeline of the SAFER Study — produced in multiple languages.
Materials Designed for Impact
From exhibit boards to handouts to social media, every element was crafted to inform and engage across channels and languages.
Social Media Outreach
Downloadable Materials
Share Your Story: Record It
Hollaway introduced an audio recording tool that marked a first for the Flood Control District. Residents could record 90-second personal flood experiences in their own voice.
These recordings were transcribed and folded into the official public record — a meaningful way to capture perspectives that written surveys often miss.
90-Second Voice Recordings
Personal flood stories transcribed and incorporated into official public comments
Engagement Within Targeted Watersheds
The campaign focused on reaching residents within the 11 study watersheds, delivering strong engagement where it mattered most.