Friendswood Flooding? (Eagle Lake, West, Howe: insurance, house, neighborhoods)

[texas7]

Does anyone know about flooding in Falcon Ridge and Eagle Lakes? West Ranch adjoins it and is built up much, much higher. If the two don't flood, wondering if they will when West Ranch is complete. Also wondering about Autumn Creek, its a much newer area.

In 1979, 75% of all homes in Friendswood flooded during a tropical storm and then again in 2001 525 homes flooded. Didn't say specific areas or if it was all over. Found that info on a city Web site about being prepared for floods.

[elnina]

Did you check the Flood Map?

[texas7]

Yes I have checked the flood maps but those are only so good and I use them as a guide but don't count on them. Friendswood has areas out of the flood plain that don'tt require flood insurance that have flooded when we have one of those historic rains of 10-20+" and there are areas requiring flood insurance within the 100 yr flood plain that have never flooded. So I know a few of the areas that flood but not familiar with all, so my best resource is someone who has lived there and knows firsthand.

[locotl]

I've looked at the flood maps in Friendswood (dont know how often they update these maps but I believe the last one is from 2012).
I inquired about this to my builder and he says that with the new additions of contention ponds/lakes it will take a major disaster to flood Friendswood. I dont know if thats true or just him trying to sell me a house.
I still told him I wanted an extra 6" of foundation for my own piece of mind.

[marksmu]

I grew up in Friendswood. Falcon Ridge did not historically flood. In exceptionally heavy rain, the park & pool on the corner would flood though. I don't believe any of the homes ever flooded though, even during Allision when the creek was over the bridge. Also, since Allison Friendswood and Fema have done extensive drainage projects, and many of the areas that previously flooded no longer flood.

I would not worry too much about west ranch. The new neighborhoods are all required to effect their drainage to their own detention areas. Those giant detention ponds in West Ranch connect to the storm sewer via a restricter plate. So when they start to fill up during heavy rains they will overflow to the storm sewer.

Yes, they are built way way up, but that is because it is far cheaper to build the property up using the dirt from digging the ponds, than it is to haul the dirt away. You can be sure that extensive drainage projects underground ensure that little to no additional water will migrate from West Ranch to Falcon Ridge, or even the creeks.

[texas7]

Appreciate your responses. Thx.

[ToyYot]

Originally Posted by locotl

I've looked at the flood maps in Friendswood (dont know how often they update these maps but I believe the last one is from 2012).
I inquired about this to my builder and he says that with the new additions of contention ponds/lakes it will take a major disaster to flood Friendswood. I dont know if thats true or just him trying to sell me a house.
I still told him I wanted an extra 6" of foundation for my own piece of mind.

This is useless advice. Do your own research:

Flood Premiums Rising Dramatically

Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool

It's more than the risk of flood, its the insurance premiums you will have to pay to cover the risk. Buying in a 100yr flood plain is just asking for trouble.

[texas7]

I know how to look up flood plain for insurance purposes. I just wanted specifics from people who knew the area. Lots of areas in the preferred zone x can and do still flood. So even if I'm not in a flood insurance required area, I would still have insurance because it's fairly cheap when it isn't required. However, I don't want to deal with water intrusion or not being able to get in and out of my neighborhood. For those whose homes are required to have flood insurance, new legislation recently signed by Obama undid a lot of the bad in terms of flood insurance rising rates. Good for homeowners in required areas. I'm only looking at homes in the preferred risk areas.

[abbybaby]

We live in Falcon Ridge. The people we bought the house from built it 14 years ago and they said it has never flooded. All the neighbors say the same thing. We opted for optional flood insurance just in case.

[locotl]

Originally Posted by ToyYot

This is useless advice. Do your own research:

Flood Premiums Rising Dramatically

Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool

It's more than the risk of flood, its the insurance premiums you will have to pay to cover the risk. Buying in a 100yr flood plain is just asking for trouble.

I did check on my own, but like I said the flood maps are not up to date and the new contention/retention lakes and ponds are not there. So eventhough the house is not on the 100 year flood zone new constructions and new lakes are not considered.