Why does Houston flood so easily? (Howe: sale, buy, gardening)

[3shipguy]

I have lived in So. Fl and I gotta say that Houston's flooding problem is worse. Florida has retention ponds and canals everywhere..... but yet their mosquito problem isn't as bad as Houston's (but that's for a discussion in another thread).

[thebeard13]

All you Floridians making comments about Houston's drainage system, do me a favor. Find one, just one documented case in Florida's recent history where 10+ inches of rain happened in ~6-8 hours and a massive flood didn't immediately follow. I see plenty of news articles about severe flooding following such events in various parts of Florida (Palm Beach, Miami Beach) but if it happens in Texas it's obviously because we don't spend enough on infrastructure or some other excuse.

Some evidence would be nice - otherwise it just sounds like BS piling on to me.

Though Houston doesn't get them EVERY day, the city deals with most torrential thunderstorms just fine. I do agree more retention would help, but at the end of the day the city is flat and essentially at sea level, the clays are not particularly permeable, and there is a lot of concrete. Those three factors will always cause the area to flood more quickly than most other areas

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think Florida has the same soil type as southeast Texas either. Apples and oranges.

[Lowexpectations]

Florida does flood and would with the same amount of rainfall. Miami floods now without any rain. Any city floods with 8-10 inches of rain in a few hours.

[thenewtexan]

Tool flat. Tool low.

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by Bobdreamz

Difference is flooding in South Florida doesn't last for days or damage homes! That only happens in hurricanes. South Florida has a excellent system of canals to drain off the daily torrential thunderstorms during the summer. Houston doesn't and I would say that has more to do with your conservative State Government not wanting to "waste" money on infrastructure spending.

11 inches Monday evening and early Tuesday morning, whose homes were flooded? By afternoon it was business as usual for most people.

[Sunderpig2]

I see a lot of "Florida" does this or that. Comparing an entire state to a city (Houston), is comparing "apples to oranges". Even comparing state to state, there's a big difference. In case you didn't notice, Florida is mostly surrounded by water, TX is bordered by a lot of land, including LA, AR, OK, CO, and NM. To make any sense, you're going to have to compare inner Houston to say inner Orlando. That's about as close as you can get. Instead, compare Houston over time to see a problem growing with a growing city.

Keep in mind too that the soils are different, with the Houston area having a predominance of "gumbo" soil, that is very impermial (sic?) to water. It's why gardeners have to use "loose" soil from elsewhere, because water doesn't easily go through the dense, gummy gumbo.

[DSL_PWR]

[bmd69]

Rather live in the Northeast!

Houses are still there after the snow.

Good luck there

[locotl]

Originally Posted by Bobdreamz

Difference is flooding in South Florida doesn't last for days or damage homes! That only happens in hurricanes. South Florida has a excellent system of canals to drain off the daily torrential thunderstorms during the summer. Houston doesn't and I would say that has more to do with your conservative State Government not wanting to "waste" money on infrastructure spending.

Lol
S.Fl is a swamp as soon as you dig up theres water the soil is made up of coral/ limestone. The "excellent system ofcanals" are only able to take the 30min summer rains (if it rains longer than that you see widespread flooding) I lived there for 13 years..
Houston bayous are meant for drainage compared to the S.Fl canals. Also the clay soil found in houston doesn't absorb water as good as the Florida limestone.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by bmd69

Rather live in the Northeast!

Houses are still there after the snow.

Good luck there

I've never had to shovel rain out of my driveway before I could go anywhere.