Flood Prone Neighborhoods (Houston: lender, buying a house, buying)

[modster]

Originally Posted by davidt1

It's too late for me now. I already signed the offer. No wonder those inland areas such Katy, Spring, Kingwoods, etc. are so popular with new comers.

No, they are just as prone to flooding as anywhere. Cypress Creek gets out of its banks with a lot more regularity than Sims Bayou, for example. The San Jacinto River came out of its banks and basically "cut off" Kingwood a few years back.

[Poltracker]

Originally Posted by Supermac34

Houston overall drains from Northwest to Southeast. All the bayous and creeks drain into the gulf that way, so during flooding, the best drainage is the Northwest part of town while the last to drain is the Southeast part of town.

Also, during tropical storms, the closer to the coast, the more storm surge and greater intensity of storm. Even 40-60 miles in, the impact of tropical storms is greatly diminished than the first 10 miles or so.

The storm surge also pushes water UP into the drainage system, so those closer to the coast get it that way too.

In general that is true, especially for those areas on the NW side of town but it is not entirely accurate for all situations. Especially for those who live south of Buffalo Bayou and the Ship Channel. Many areas drain northward into the HSC(Braes Bayou, Sims, Bayou, Vince Bayou, Patrick Bayou, etc.), other areas (not Houston proper) drain SW to Galv Bay (Baytown, Highlands), or West (Sugarland). It depends on the watershed and where you are in it. The main watersheds (SJR, Buff Bayou, Greens Bayou, Brazos River) do flow generally to the south or east.

Also, there is generally little to no storm surge during a tropical storm, so that is not an issue compared to flooding from rain. Hurricane storm surge can be bad.

[Poltracker]

Originally Posted by davidt1

It's too late for me now. I already signed the offer. No wonder those inland areas such Katy, Spring, Kingwoods, etc. are so popular with new comers.

Those areas flood too. A lot of Katy and Copperfield area used to be a giant rice patty (think about that a minute). Everywhere in the Houston area floods and if we get 25 inches of rain in 8 hours...it really Floods (so would anywhere else). The point is, it is like living up north where it snows a lot. You learn to live with it. Hasn't seemed to hurt Houston's economy so far. BTW when we talk about rain, we don't mean 2 inches in an hour for a brief period. We are talking of 4-5 inches an hour for at least an hour. For example: during TS Erin this year. The rain rate was about 6 inches per hour for greater than 2 hours in isolated areas(similar to allison). That is pretty intense and did cause some home flooding in limited areas. Some of that flooding was due to failed pumps, and obstructed storm water outfalls.

[texas7]

It isn't bad to live in the Clear Lake area - all areas of town will have street flooding where you can't get in or out when we have enough rain fall in a short amount of time. You'll be fine and probably wind up being very happy. 77034 is in an older part of Pasadena, actually may that zip is South Houston. If you have bought a house yet - you might look in zip codes 77505 (Pasadena) off of Space Center and Genoa Red Bluff - no homes have flooded in that immediate area only the streets where you can't in or out sometimes (but again that can happen anywhere) or look in 77062 - (Clear Lake - better schools). Both would be very convenient to where you work and would be good and safe areas to live in. Don't stress - you'll be fine. Usually people who move to this side of town end up loving it.

[Honeylv]

What about the Sothwest 77053 area. Is that area prone to flooding?

[usc619]

LMAO, Every local(born and raised) I've ever asked says Katy has never flooded, Only on City-Data. I could care less but come'on no need to drag Katy into this LOL

[CherryMagic]

Originally Posted by davidt1

Are areas closer to the water such as Clear Lake and Friensdwoods more at risk than areas further inland like Kingwood and Humble?

Of course!

[DJboutit]

Areas around Brase Bayou between Chimney Rock & kirby Flood all the time lower Heights closer to I10 floods to

[vcalhoun1]

What about West Houston and 77077? Is this area prone to flooding? I'm relocating to Houston in the summer.

[Poltracker]

All Houston streets flood from time to time, but that area has a lower history of flooding and related damage. Probably because Barker Reservoir (a huge flood control structure) is just upstream.