Your Neighborhood's Flood Risk

Houston floods. It is built on flat coastal prairie with clay soil that does not absorb water, crossed by 22 bayous that drain into Galveston Bay. Harris County has experienced 5 major floods since 2015 alone. This guide explains how to check your specific flood risk using FEMA maps, what the Harris County Flood Control District does with its $2.5 billion bond program, how flood insurance works through the National Flood Insurance Program, what to do before and during a flood to keep your family safe, and how Houston's Bayou Greenways project turns flood infrastructure into 150 miles of connected parks and trails.

Houston sits on flat coastal prairie with clay soil that repels water instead of absorbing it. The city is crossed by 22 bayous that carry stormwater to Galveston Bay. When rain falls faster than bayous can drain -- and in Houston, it regularly does -- streets flood, homes flood, lives are disrupted. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 dropped 60 inches of rain in 4 days, flooded 300,000 structures, and caused $125 billion in damage. The Harris County Flood Control District manages 2,500 miles of bayous and channels. After Harvey, voters approved a $2.5 billion bond to fund 181 flood mitigation projects across the county. This guide helps you understand your specific risk and what you can do about it.