Floods? (Austin, New Braunfels, Spring: homeowners insurance, mortgage, lender) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

Runemaster · 03-25-2009, 02:15 PM

I saw some pictures earlier today of Georgetown & other Austin suburbs totally under water. Then I ran several street addresses from houses we were looking at on Realtor.com thru the Floodsmart.gov: Your premier resource for flood insurance information website and they all came back as low to moderate flood risks.

Is flooding that common there?

readymade · 03-25-2009, 02:41 PM

I can't answer your question, but I did notice on the site you posted that their tagline is: "Everyone lives in a flood zone" so I wouldn't really go by what they say. I typed in my mom's house that hasn't even been close to flooded in the 40+ years she's lived there (i.e. no flood risk). It also said "Low to moderate flood risk." I don't think they list "not a flood risk" as an option at all (hence their tagline).

jobert · 03-25-2009, 02:48 PM

City of Austin will provide flood plain maps. There are flood plains that are generally used for greenbelts/parks/golfcourse/easements. Then there are 100 year and 500 year flood plains. No lender will underwrite a mortgage for a new house built in 100yfp. because no one will provide homeowners insurance for it. There are houses in 100/500 year flood plains, but they were built before knowledge of this (some areas of Onion Creek for example) If it makes you feel any better, W. Riverside is a 100yfp, and downtown up to Second street is a 500yfp. The developers don't seemed phased by it obviously.

jobert · 03-25-2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by readymade

"Everyone lives in a flood zone" so I wouldn't really go by what they say.

true - a 4000 year flood plain - start building an ark.

oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots · 03-25-2009, 03:52 PM

What I want to know is how close are you to the 100 or 500 year flood mark?

UKjay · 03-25-2009, 04:14 PM

We had quite a shock when we found out our house was in the new 100 year flood plain in mid December. Board members were incredibly helpful sorting out the maps and insurance nightmare. Our next door neighbor, whose house was built second on the street (ours was the first), said there have never been flood waters in either of our yards or on the tee boxes behind the houses. So fingers crossed, but just in case we have flood insurance.
Again, I can't thank board members enough for their advice on the flood maps and other issues as we've returned from "the mother planet

" (well at least mine...DH is more a Netherlands guy.

love roses · 03-25-2009, 04:21 PM

Wasn't all the flooding we had a few years ago when Rivers like the San Gabriel went WAAAYYYY over their banks supposed to be the 4 or 500 yr. mark?

Runemaster · 03-25-2009, 06:23 PM

Thanks for the info. I figured it was something like the whole "Don't move to California, as it'll fall off the map any second" sorta thing. However, I'd prefer to build an ark than try to figure out how to climb back onto the map...

LJarrett · 03-25-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runemaster

Thanks for the info. I figured it was something like the whole "Don't move to California, as it'll fall off the map any second" sorta thing. However, I'd prefer to build an ark than try to figure out how to climb back onto the map...

That's pretty much what it is. If you live out in the country in a low lying area near water you are more likely to have flooding. Or if you live beside a river. Also, sometimes creeks flood (Spicewood Springs seems like it's always blocked off). So if you live near a creek, make sure there are alternative routes so you don't get blocked. In 98 we had horrible flooding in San Marcos and New Braunfels where there are 3 rivers that run through both towns. My in-laws live on a hill so they were fine but my husband lived in the country outside of San Marcos and his house flooded. Around 2002 Canyon Lake dam overflowed and most of the homes along the Guadalupe river flooded. There was alot of news also about flooding in 2007. I lived near Lake Travis in River Place and everything was good for us. Those are going to be the main areas that flood.

Runemaster · 03-25-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LJarrett

That's pretty much what it is. If you live out in the country in a low lying area near water you are more likely to have flooding. Or if you live beside a river. Also, sometimes creeks flood (Spicewood Springs seems like it's always blocked off). So if you live near a creek, make sure there are alternative routes so you don't get blocked. In 98 we had horrible flooding in San Marcos and New Braunfels where there are 3 rivers that run through both towns. My in-laws live on a hill so they were fine but my husband lived in the country outside of San Marcos and his house flooded. Around 2002 Canyon Lake dam overflowed and most of the homes along the Guadalupe river flooded. There was alot of news also about flooding in 2007. I lived near Lake Travis in River Place and everything was good for us. Those are going to be the main areas that flood.

Okay, thanks. So, not much, if any up north in the Cedar Park, Leander, Georgetown areas?