Flooding in Houston

The risk for flooding has always been a concern for city planners and engineers in the Houston area.  However, the risk of flooding at a particular property is largely dependent upon its location and the topography of the region.

In the Northern part of Harris County, the topography has gently rolling hills and the risk of flooding comes largely from flash floods that fill the valley floors quickly in heavy downpours.  The Northeastern part of Harris County is subject to river flooding from the San Jacinto River that flows through the area.  The bulk of Harris County is largely flat terrain and prolonged rains such as those from tropical storm Allison can overburden the drainage systems and cause widespread problems.  To the Southeast of Harris County, inhabitants are concerned with tidal surges that result from tropical storms and hurricanes.

To better understand the risks of flooding in and around Harris County, check out www.tsarp.org or click on the links below.

Understanding flooding in Harris County

Interactive Mapping Tool (find out if your home is in a flood plain)