Is a move to Houston a move to ecological hardship? (San Antonio: insurance, home)

[hello13685]

I'm still deciding on what to do about a move to Houston. I was offered a job at the University of Houston (that they are holding for a year, so I don't have to decide right away). Thank you all for your wonderful advice in the other thread.

The thing that's been troubling me now, though, and is a bit of a hitch in my decision-making, is wondering whether moving to Houston would be a move into ecological hardship. I've been reading these articles about how Houston is sinking (as the rest of the Gulf Coast is), and what this means for flooding. Apparently, this has led to quite stark settlement of entire neighborhoods due to ground water pumping, and people noticing that their neighborhoods now flood EVERY time it rains (which is all the time), whereas they never flooded before. Things keep shifting... Combined with global warming, I'm not so sure that's a good thing. I have a friend who lived in Houston during the big flood in 2001 or whatever it was, and he said "Yeah, we all lost our cars," and he brushed it off with a "#$it happens" kind of attitude. I would not be one of those people who would be able to brush something like that off so easily. I also want my home and car to be insurable long term, and I believe insurers are covering less and less and charging more and more.

What are the locals' take on these fears of mine, what the flooding outlook is, what all of this would cost me in terms of losing property value, money to insurance coverage, etc. living anywhere near UH. I mean, is UH going to go bust because it's in the middle of a flood zone anyway? I have no reality basis here--just checking.

[mom22bless]

Bad things happen everywhere....whether it's blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. However Houston has a good emergency plan in case something happens.

Just be prepared is my motto.

[hello13685]

I'm not worried about drowning vs. evacuating. I'm worried about paying for damage, and having a $60,000 deductible saved up for my flood policy.

[modster]

Originally Posted by hello13685

I'm still deciding on what to do about a move to Houston. I was offered a job at the University of Houston (that they are holding for a year, so I don't have to decide right away). Thank you all for your wonderful advice in the other thread.

The thing that's been troubling me now, though, and is a bit of a hitch in my decision-making, is wondering whether moving to Houston would be a move into ecological hardship. I've been reading these articles about how Houston is sinking (as the rest of the Gulf Coast is), and what this means for flooding. Apparently, this has led to quite stark settlement of entire neighborhoods due to ground water pumping, and people noticing that their neighborhoods now flood EVERY time it rains (which is all the time), whereas they never flooded before. Things keep shifting... Combined with global warming, I'm not so sure that's a good thing. I have a friend who lived in Houston during the big flood in 2001 or whatever it was, and he said "Yeah, we all lost our cars," and he brushed it off with a "#$it happens" kind of attitude. I would not be one of those people who would be able to brush something like that off so easily. I also want my home and car to be insurable long term, and I believe insurers are covering less and less and charging more and more.

What are the locals' take on these fears of mine, what the flooding outlook is, what all of this would cost me in terms of losing property value, money to insurance coverage, etc. living anywhere near UH. I mean, is UH going to go bust because it's in the middle of a flood zone anyway? I have no reality basis here--just checking.

Remember you asked for opinions...

God luv ya, but I think you have lost your mind! At the very least you are mind%(^*@ yourself like a "ecological hypochondriac." You are inventing situational/ecological ills that do not exist. (Well, some may exist but I think you are over reacting to the percieved peril).


Noooo, U of H is not going to go bust anytime soon.

Is the neighborhood you read about Brownwood? That was one neighborhood that sunk in one weird area by the coast.

[hello13685]

Hi Modster, That's too funny that you pegged me as an ecological hypochondriac (because I can be a medical hypochondriac too!)

I did read about Brownwood, but this article also talked about various neighborhoods that keep shifting, so rain that used to flow into one now flows into another, and so on.

But yes, my friend and his friends did all completely lose their cars and many belongings in the 2001 flood. And yes, I can be a hypochondriac, but had you asked me six years ago if the twin towers would fall, or had you asked most US citizens if one storm could have done the damage it did to New Orleans, I think most people would have said "Oh, come one now, you're exaggerating..."

[modster]

Oh good Lord & Taylor!

Yes, anywhere and everywhere could have some sort of man-made or natural disaster.

So where is the next disaster going to be? For example, are we going to sink into the Gulf before or after your old stomping grounds in California falls into the Pacific?

You can hypothetical-situation yourself into a neurotic frenzy if you put a little effort into it. You have other things to worry about.

Besides, if you found San Antonio too slow and provincial, you would be much happier in Houston. Especially if you stay more in the city.

[hello13685]

Yes, maybe losing my car and great grandmother's antiques to a flood in Houston might be better than suffering the drone of San Antonio's flat energy. (By the way, to my knowledge, property-destroying floods and subsidence in Houston are not merely hypothetical. California falling into the ocean is...)

As an aside, I suppose that much of a place is about the people, and I haven't really found like-minded, CURIOUS people in SA. Is curiosity about the world (beyond a backyard family barbecue) too much to ask of a culture? I'm assuming that a more worldly population in Houston might have more worldly attitudes...

And yes, I work myself into frenzies on a regular basis, especially since I moved to SA

[skyparis]

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[eastwest]

"Ecological harship"? Lol, um no. Less damage from weather here than anywhere else I've ever lived.

[AK123]

Just research an area before you move there. We had no problems in the 2001 flood at all.