Large, water-inflatable barriers were among the modern flood-defense technologies featured in a March 7 demonstration near Rice Stadium hosted by Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center (SSPEED). The invitation-only event featured a variety of technologies developed in the Netherlands as well as expert commentary from SSPEED Director Phil Bedient, Rice’s Herman Brown Professor of Engineering, and Delft University of Technology Professor Bas Jonkman. (Photo by Gustavo Raskosky/Rice University)