Houston has been deeply affected by two "100-year-floods" in the last year that have caused millions of dollars of damage and displaced thousands. Folks who have recently moved to Houston might wonder if this is the norm. It's even confusing for people who have lived here for years and seen nothing like it.
Did you know that in certain flooding conditions, a vehicle can be washed away in less than 12 inches of fast-moving floodwater? Conditions that cause floods include heavy rain that saturates the ground that can last for several hours or days. In Texas, flash flooding is dangerous because it occurs suddenly due to rapidly rising water along a stream or low-lying area, leaving little time for affected residents to evacuate their home or business, or their car, if attempting to drive across a flooded roadway. Because flash floods can be sudden, roadways can be covered in swiftly moving floodwater, making them unsafe and impassable. Most flood-related deaths are due to motorists attempting to cross a flooded low-water crossing or road. Know your flood risk, and Turn Around, Don’t Drown®!
Prepare for flooding by doing the following:
-Know how to shut off the electricity and gas to your house when flooding occurs.
-Make a list of emergency numbers and identify a safe place to go.
-Make a household inventory.
-Put insurance policies, valuable papers, medicine, etc., in a safe place.
-Develop a disaster response plan (See the Red Cross’ website: www.redcross.org/services/disaster/ for a copy of the brochure Your Family Disaster Plan.
-Get a copy of Repairing Your Flooded Home, which also can be found on the Red Cross’ website.
Consider some permanent flood protection measures.
-Mark your fuse box to show the circuits to the floodable areas. Turning off the power to these floodable areas can reduce property damage (fires) and save lives.
-Consider flood protection alternatives such as flood walls or berms.
-Note that some flood protection measures may require permits. Please check with the Floodplain Management Office and/or the Building Code Enforcement Branch for more information.
-A copy of ‘Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your House from Flooding’ are available at no charge to download from http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/480.
Talk to the Floodplain Management Office for information on financial assistance.
-If you are interested in elevating your building above the flood level, or if you are interested in selling your house to the City, the City may be able to apply for federal grants to cover a portion of the cost.
-Get a flood insurance policy – it will help pay for repairs after a flood and, in some cases, it will help pay the costs of elevating a substantially damaged building.
5. Get a Flood Insurance Policy
-Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. However, some owners have purchased flood insurance because it was required by the bank when they received a mortgage or home improvement loan.
-Don’t wait until the next flood to buy flood insurance protection. In most cases, there is a 30-day waiting period before the National Flood Insurance Program coverage takes effect.
-Contact your insurance agent for more information on rates and coverage.
During / After Flood
-If emergency evacuation is needed, please visit the City’s Emergency Management Office website for shelter locations at www.houstonoem.org and follow the instructions to evacuate – it saves lives of those around you and possibly of the emergency workers responding.
-Ask for a licensed electrician, plumber, etc., to check or turn on your power, water, and/or gas.
-Do not wade through flood waters due to the danger of pollutants, debris (nails, glass, etc.), and animals (snakes, ants, etc.).
-Flood waters are often murky and depth is hard to determine. Do not drive through flood waters! Turn Around, Don’t Drown®!
Weather Tracking Resources:
Be sure to sign up for Alert Houston to receive timely information during weather emergencies. You can register for alerts through email, text message, voice call, or mobile app push notifications, and most alerts are geo-targeted.
If you live in one of the following neighborhoods, you can also sign up for area specific alert systems to get the most locally-relevant information: Bellaire, West U, Memorial Villages. Sign up for HISD alerts to find out about school closures.
The Harris County Flood Control District also offers interactive mapping tools to help you stay informed on weather conditions. The Harris County Flood Warning System allows people to type in their address and see water levels nearby in real time, based on 163 rainfall gages installed around the county.
Folks who don't have transportation to evacuate during an emergency should register online for the Transportation Assistance Registry. This helps the City of Houston identify those who need additional assistance during an emergency. Register online here.
Download Disaster Apps from the American Red Cross
The Red Cross created Disaster Apps to help folks before and during disasters. Topics range from Earthquake, Wildfire, Hurricane, Emergency, Tornado to First Aid. In Houston, one of the important ones to download on your phone is the Flood App. This app helps folks learn and prepare for flooding, evacuation, and a safe return home. It shares flood watch and warning alerts based on your location, flood safety tips, a map of Red Cross shelters, enables you to let others know you're safe, and more. Most importantly, it doesn't require mobile connectivity if cell towers are down.
Flood Response Information:
-Reporting flooding: Call 311 or file a report
-Finding your towed car: File a report here
-File a Flood claim with FEMA
-Food safety: Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water
-Sanitizing your home: When rain water gets into your home, take steps to prevent mold growth. Wash surfaces with soap and water, sanitize with household bleach and then clean with a solution of 1 cup household liquid bleach per 5 gallons of water.
-Tetanus Shot: People ages 7+ with cuts that were exposed to flood water could be at risk of tetanus. Consult your primary care doctor about whether a tetanus shot might be needed.