![]() Houston did not see another storm of that caliber for 14 years. ![]() Tropical Storm Allison, in 2001, was Houston’s reigning 500-year flood event (meaning a 1 in 500 chance of occurring). Major flooding events causing widespread flooding are relatively rare, although they have been occurring more frequently in recent years. ![]() Houston’s streets flood multiple times a year but drain quickly and leave no lasting damage. The most unexpected reason? The city was designed to flood. Over 150,000 homes flooded, and structures located along waterways sustained the brunt of the damage. The already flooded streets overwhelmed the city’s drainage system pushing water into houses and businesses. The bayous and reservoirs, unable to adequately drain the rapidly accumulating water, broke their banks and spilled into the street. The storm dropped over 50 inches of rain steadily for 7 days. Unfortunately, Hurricane Harvey was an anomaly. During regular weather events, the bayous fill with water and drain to two main reservoirs: Addicks and Barker. The major bayous were widened and deepened in order to control the flow of water. Developers built the city around this intricate system of natural waterways and used them to mitigate flooding. Houston is also known as The Bayou City due to the 22 interconnected bayous running through it like veins. Street flooding can be inconvenient (and dangerous if driving), but it is necessary to protect homes and other structures. The majority of streets are raised in the center allowing for water to easily drain off into the sewers. While this seems counterintuitive, flooding the streets keeps water from entering homes. The majority of Houston’s streets were made to fill with water every time there is heavy rainfall. ![]() While the hurricane was devastating citywide due to the unprecedented nature of the storm, flooding and home damage was worse in areas located on or near bayous and reservoirs. With Hurricane Harvey still on the minds of many Houston residents, it shouldn’t be a surprise that many homebuyers are looking for houses where flooding won’t be an issue. ![]()
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