Is Your Houston Home in a Flood Zone?

Search the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov. Type the street address in the search box; the results show the effective map panel, its effective date and any Letters of Map Change on file. Choose Print Map/FIRMette to make a printable map centered on the address, or Download FIRM Panel for the full panel, and read the zone label from the legend. In Harris County, the Flood Control District's Flood Education Mapping Tool offers an easier view, but it states it is not the effective FIRM. Your local floodplain administrator can confirm the designation, and FEMA's map help line is 1-877-336-2627.

Sources: FEMA Flood Map Service Center · FEMA EMI IS-273: MSC search results and products · HCFCD: Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool · FloodSmart: What are flood zones and maps? Checked Oct 20, 2026

No. A FEMA flood map shows modeled flood hazard zones and, in some zones, base flood elevations; it is not a record of past flooding at any address. Prior flooding is a separate question you research through the seller's disclosure, which in Texas asks about water penetration from natural flood events, flood insurance claims and FEMA or SBA flood assistance, and through records the seller can provide. In Harris County, the Flood Warning System keeps historical rainfall and water-level data, but its inundation layer covers only gaged channels and does not show ponding or sheet flow.

Sources: FEMA EMI IS-273: FIRM legend · Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) · Harris County Flood Warning System help Checked Oct 20, 2026

Zones starting with A or V are Special Flood Hazard Areas, land expected to be reached by a flood with a 1% chance in any year. AE, AH and VE have published base flood elevations; Zone A does not. AH marks ponding in flat areas, AO marks shallow flooding with a depth number on the map, and V and VE are coastal high-hazard areas with storm waves. Shaded X (older maps: B) is the moderate-hazard 0.2% annual chance area. Unshaded X (older: C) lies outside the 0.2% floodplain. Zone D means hazards are undetermined but possible, which FloodSmart notes is not the same as no risk.

Sources: FEMA EMI IS-273: FIRM legend · FEMA EMI IS-273: SFHA zone designations · FEMA EMI IS-273: Zones B, C, D and X · FEMA glossary (P): Ponding hazard · FloodSmart: What are flood zones and maps? · Harris County Floodplain Management Regulations (eff. 7/9/2019) Checked Oct 20, 2026

They describe annual odds, not how often a flood happens. The 100-year floodplain is the area with a 1% chance of being flooded or exceeded in any given year, which FEMA calls the base flood; it can flood in back-to-back years. The 500-year floodplain is the area with a 0.2% annual chance, shown as shaded Zone X on current maps. Texas Property Code 5.008 uses the same definitions on the seller's disclosure: the 100-year floodplain is the mapped special flood hazard area and the 500-year floodplain is the moderate hazard (shaded X) area.

Sources: FEMA: Flood Zones · FEMA EMI IS-273: FIRM legend · Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Yes. FloodSmart states that 1 in 3 flood insurance claims come from low- and moderate-risk zones, and an August 2025 NFIP notice says nearly a third of NFIP claims from 2014 to 2024 came from those zones. FloodSmart describes moderate and low-risk zones as having reduced, not zero, risk, and says Zone D's undetermined risk is not the same as no risk. Texas also requires residential landlords to warn tenants that a dwelling outside the 100-year floodplain can still flood. Check the specific address on the official maps and research the property's own history before deciding on coverage.

Sources: FloodSmart: What are flood zones and maps? · FEMA NFIP: Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage (Aug 2025) · Texas Property Code ch. 92 (Sec. 92.0135) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Start with the seller's disclosure and follow up in writing. In Texas, Property Code 5.008 requires sellers covered by the statute to answer whether there was previous water penetration into a structure from a natural flood event, previous flooding from a reservoir breach or release, any flood claim filed with an insurer including the NFIP, and any FEMA or SBA flood assistance received. Ask the seller for claim paperwork, repair invoices and any elevation certificate. Ask the local floodplain office whether an elevation certificate or permit history is on file. In Harris County, the Flood Warning System offers historical rainfall and water-level data for nearby channels.

Sources: Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) · FloodSmart: Elevation certificates · HCFCD: Flood Warning System · Harris County Flood Warning System help Checked Oct 20, 2026

Texas Property Code 5.008 requires a seller's disclosure notice with several flood items. The seller marks whether the property has present flood insurance, previous flooding from a reservoir failure or controlled release, and previous water penetration into a structure from a natural flood event. The seller also states whether the property is wholly or partly in a 100-year floodplain, 500-year floodplain, floodway, flood pool or reservoir. Separate questions ask whether the seller ever filed a flood claim with any insurer, including the NFIP, and ever received FEMA or SBA flood assistance. These items were added in 2019 (H.B. 3815, S.B. 339). Some transfers, such as foreclosures and new never-occupied homes, are exempt.

Sources: Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Under Property Code 5.008(f), the seller must deliver the notice on or before the effective date of the contract. If the buyer signs without receiving it, the buyer may terminate the contract for any reason within seven days after receiving the notice. The statute also lists exempt transfers, including court-ordered and foreclosure sales, transfers between co-owners or spouses, transfers to or from a governmental entity, and sales of a new home never previously occupied. Sellers who are unsure whether an answer applies, such as the floodplain items, should check the effective FEMA map for the address before answering.

Sources: Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) · FEMA Flood Map Service Center Checked Oct 20, 2026

An elevation certificate compares a building's height with expected local flood levels, recording its location, characteristics and first floor height, with basements measured separately. First ask the local floodplain manager, usually in the city or county building, permitting or engineering office, whether one is already on file; a seller may also have one. If none exists, a land surveyor, engineer or architect prepares it. FloodSmart says most homeowners do not need one to buy flood insurance, though it may be needed in high-risk A and V zones, and it may help identify premium discounts. In unincorporated Harris County, permits in the shaded X area require one.

Sources: FloodSmart: Elevation certificates · FloodSmart agents: Risk Rating 2.0, what goes into the rate · Harris County Office of the County Engineer: Permits FAQ Checked Oct 20, 2026

They are Letters of Map Change, official FEMA letters that change how the effective flood map applies. A Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) states that a property or structure is outside the Special Flood Hazard Area, usually because it sits on natural ground above the base flood elevation. A Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) revises the map itself, typically after physical changes alter flooding, floodway or base flood elevations; the community submits it. A LOMR-F revises the hazard area based on fill placed outside the floodway. The MSC search results list LOMCs on file, and the City of Houston Floodplain Management Office manages them for the city.

Sources: FEMA glossary (L): LOMA, LOMR, LOMR-F, LOMC · FEMA EMI IS-273: MSC search results and products · Houston Permitting Center: Floodplain Management Office Checked Oct 20, 2026

Yes. FEMA revises maps through new studies and through Letters of Map Change, and FloodSmart recommends checking your map for updates every year. In Harris County, the MAAPnext project led by the Flood Control District with FEMA is producing new flood models and preliminary maps using NOAA Atlas 14 rainfall data, which raised precipitation estimates. As of October 2026, MAAPnext maps were drafts for information only, not usable for insurance or regulation, and FEMA had not set a public release date for preliminary maps. If a property's zone changes to high risk, a lender may require flood insurance.

Sources: FloodSmart: What are flood zones and maps? · MAAPnext (Harris County Flood Control District) · MAAPnext: About · FEMA EMI IS-273: MSC search results and products Checked Oct 20, 2026

The effective map is the one currently in force for flood insurance and floodplain regulations; it is what the MSC search returns and what a FIRMette is built from. Preliminary maps are proposed new maps released for public review before they take effect, and FEMA says a FIRMette cannot be made from them because they are not yet effective. Its Flood Map Changes Viewer compares the two. For MAAPnext in Harris County, a formal public review and appeal period starts after FEMA releases the preliminary maps. Until then, the MAAPnext draft data is for information only.

Sources: FEMA EMI IS-273: MSC search results and products · MAAPnext (Harris County Flood Control District) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Lenders require it when the home is in a high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area, any zone beginning with A or V, and the loan is federally backed. FloodSmart and FEMA state that buildings in high-risk areas with mortgages from government-backed lenders must carry flood insurance. Fannie Mae's Selling Guide requires it when any part of the principal structure is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, and it will not buy such a loan if the community does not participate in the NFIP. Coverage must meet its minimums, and private policies are acceptable if at least equal to NFIP coverage. Lenders can also require flood insurance outside those areas.

Sources: FloodSmart: What are flood zones and maps? · FEMA: Flood Insurance (NFIP) · Fannie Mae Selling Guide B7-3-06 Flood Insurance Requirements Checked Oct 20, 2026

Ask an insurance agent or your current insurer, because premiums are set for each property. FEMA's NFIP pages offer a quote tool and say you can share the quote with a local agent, or find a provider through FloodSmart or by calling the NFIP at 877-336-2627. Under Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP pricing considers factors such as distance to water, elevation, rebuilding cost, building type, first floor height, deductibles and mitigation. Private flood policies also exist, and Fannie Mae accepts them when terms are at least equal to NFIP coverage. A new NFIP policy typically takes 30 days to take effect, with exceptions such as coverage required by a lender at closing.

Sources: FEMA: Flood Insurance (NFIP) · FloodSmart: How to buy flood insurance · FloodSmart agents: Risk Rating 2.0, what goes into the rate · FloodSmart agents: 30-day coverage gap · Fannie Mae Selling Guide B7-3-06 Flood Insurance Requirements Checked Oct 20, 2026

Usually not. FEMA states that most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, and flood coverage is bought as a separate policy for the building, its contents or both. NFIP coverage is available to anyone in a participating community, and you do not need a disaster declaration to buy it. Texas law requires residential landlords to warn tenants that most renters insurance does not cover flood losses either. On the coast, TWIA windstorm policies cover wind and hail only, not flood. Plan for the typical 30-day waiting period on a new NFIP policy.

Sources: FEMA: Flood Insurance (NFIP) · FEMA NFIP: Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage (Aug 2025) · Texas Property Code ch. 92 (Sec. 92.0135) · TWIA FAQ · FloodSmart agents: 30-day coverage gap Checked Oct 20, 2026

Confirm the lot's FEMA zone, whether any part lies in a floodway, and what permits the city or county will require to build. In unincorporated Harris County, all development, including fill and grading, needs a county permit. No fill is allowed in a floodway, fill may not be used to elevate structures in the 1% floodplain, and lost floodplain storage in the 500-year floodplain must be offset one-to-one in the same watershed. Inside Houston, the Floodplain Management Office issues permits for construction in the 500-year floodplain, 100-year floodplain and floodway. Ask the permitting office what elevation, engineering and drainage plans a home on that lot will need.

Sources: Harris County Floodplain Management Regulations (eff. 7/9/2019) · Harris County Office of the County Engineer: Permits FAQ · Houston Permitting Center: Floodplain Management Office · FEMA Flood Map Service Center Checked Oct 20, 2026

In a mapped floodplain, large projects can trigger current elevation rules. Under FEMA's 50% rule, a building is substantially improved or substantially damaged when the work or repair cost reaches 50% or more of the structure's market value, and it must then meet current floodplain standards. Local officials, not FEMA, make that call. Harris County uses appraisal district value unless an independent appraisal is provided, and for unincorporated areas requires the lowest habitable floor at least 24 inches above the 500-year flood elevation. City of Houston guidance describes its regulatory elevation as the 500-year elevation plus two feet. Get permits before starting work.

Sources: FEMA: Substantial Damage Quick Guide · Harris County Floodplain Management Regulations (eff. 7/9/2019) · Houston Permitting Center: Elevating A/C systems in the floodplain (Chapter 19) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Ask whether any part of the property is in a floodway, flood pool or reservoir, which the Texas seller's disclosure covers, and check the FEMA map. Ask about drainage easements: the Fort Bend County Drainage District says it maintains channels where it holds easements. In Harris County, the Flood Education Mapping Tool shows channels with Flood Control District identification numbers. Sellers of property next to an impoundment with at least 5,000 acre-feet of storage must give a notice about water level changes. For Lake Conroe, SJRA publishes lake level, release and seasonal information. Who operates Lake Houston's dam should be confirmed with the City of Houston.

Sources: Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) · Fort Bend County Drainage District FAQs · Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool · San Jacinto River Authority · FEMA Flood Map Service Center Checked Oct 20, 2026

Ask for the seller's disclosure notice and written follow-up on every flood item, including any flood claims and FEMA or SBA assistance. Request the seller's flood insurance declarations and claim records, repair invoices and permits for flood repairs, and any elevation certificate. Ask the local floodplain office whether an elevation certificate or permit file exists. Pull a FIRMette from the FEMA MSC and check for any LOMA or LOMR on the property. In unincorporated Harris County, ask whether any floodplain permit violation or recorded Certificate of Non-Compliance exists, since the county says that can affect clear title.

Sources: Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) · FloodSmart: Elevation certificates · FEMA EMI IS-273: MSC search results and products · Harris County Office of the County Engineer: Permits FAQ Checked Oct 20, 2026

Texas sellers covered by Property Code 5.008 must answer the statutory flood questions on the disclosure notice: present flood insurance, any previous water penetration into a structure from a natural flood event, previous flooding from a reservoir breach or release, the property's floodplain, floodway, flood pool and reservoir status, any flood claims filed with an insurer including the NFIP, and any FEMA or SBA flood assistance. The notice must be delivered on or before the contract's effective date, or the buyer gets seven days to terminate after receiving it. Check the effective FEMA map before answering the floodplain items, and talk to a real estate attorney about anything unclear.

Sources: Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) · FEMA Flood Map Service Center Checked Oct 20, 2026

Under Property Code 92.0135, a residential landlord must give a written notice at or before lease signing stating whether the landlord is or is not aware the dwelling is in a 100-year floodplain; if neither box is checked, the tenant should assume it is. The notice also warns that homes outside the floodplain can flood and that most renters policies exclude flood. If the landlord knows flooding damaged the dwelling in the past five years, a second notice applies. If the landlord violates the law and a tenant suffers a substantial flood loss, the tenant may end the lease within 30 days. Leases under 30 days are exempt.

Sources: Texas Property Code ch. 92 (Sec. 92.0135) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Use the Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool. Search the address, then switch the map view to the Watersheds layer, which color-codes the county's watersheds. The Flood Control District divides the county into 23 major watersheds, including Cypress Creek, Spring Creek, Greens Bayou, Buffalo Bayou, Brays Bayou, White Oak Bayou and the San Jacinto River, and its watershed pages list projects in each one. Knowing the watershed helps you follow district projects, map updates and nearby stream gages on the Harris County Flood Warning System.

Sources: Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool · HCFCD: Harris County's Watersheds · HCFCD: Flood Warning System Checked Oct 20, 2026

MAAPnext is the Harris County Modeling, Assessment and Awareness Project, a flood hazard update by the Harris County Flood Control District in partnership with FEMA. It started in 2019, uses new terrain data and NOAA Atlas 14 rainfall, and is producing new models, preliminary flood insurance rate maps, flood depth grids and an urban flooding map. Results went to FEMA for review in early 2022. As of October 2026, its website described the maps as drafts for information only, not for insurance or regulatory use, and gave no release date for FEMA's preliminary maps, after which a public review and appeal period begins.

Sources: MAAPnext: About · MAAPnext (Harris County Flood Control District) Checked Oct 20, 2026

It is a free Flood Control District map that shows FEMA-mapped floodplains in Harris County relative to homes and businesses, with layers for the floodway, 1% and 0.2% annual chance floodplains, coastal floodplain, watersheds, ponding and channels. It replaced the older TSARP tool developed after Tropical Storm Allison. The district states plainly that it is not the effective FIRM. For the official map used for insurance and regulation, search the address on FEMA's Map Service Center and print a FIRMette.

Sources: HCFCD: Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool · Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool · FEMA Flood Map Service Center Checked Oct 20, 2026

TWIA sells wind and hail coverage to coastal property owners who cannot get it in the regular market; it does not cover flood. It serves the 14 first-tier coastal counties, including Galveston, Brazoria and Chambers, plus parts of Harris County east of Highway 146 inside La Porte, Morgan's Point, Pasadena, Seabrook and Shore Acres. Properties need a windstorm certificate showing building code compliance, now issued by the Texas Department of Insurance. Homes in certain V zones built or substantially changed after September 1, 2009 must show proof of flood insurance to be eligible.

Sources: TWIA FAQ · TWIA: Windstorm certification · TDI: Windstorm inspections Checked Oct 20, 2026

A FIRMette is a one-page print of the effective flood map around a chosen spot, while a FIRM panel is the full map sheet as FEMA first published it. On the Map Service Center, the Dynamic Map option builds the FIRMette from current National Flood Hazard Layer data. The Map Image option downloads the whole panel as a ZIP file with a .tif image. Because a downloaded panel shows the map as originally printed, check the Revisions, Amendments and Revalidations folders, and the Letters of Map Change listed in the results, for anything issued later. A FIRMette cannot be made from preliminary panels, since they are not yet in effect.

Sources: FEMA EMI IS-273: MSC search results and products · FEMA Flood Map Service Center Checked Oct 20, 2026

Use the Show All Products option on FEMA's Map Service Center. After searching the address or community, that list includes historic FIRMs and panels, preliminary products and Flood Insurance Study reports, not just the current effective map. Map Index files, marked "IND" in the product ID, show how the community is split into panels so you can pick the right sheet. Older panels can be downloaded and viewed with FEMA's FIRMette tools. Comparing an old panel with today's effective map shows how the mapped zone for that spot has changed over time, but neither map is a record of actual flooding at the property.

Sources: FEMA EMI IS-273: MSC search results and products · FEMA Flood Map Service Center Checked Oct 20, 2026

The regulatory floodway is the stream channel plus the nearby land that must be kept open so the base flood can pass without pushing water levels higher. Communities in the NFIP must control building in the floodway so it does not raise flood elevations. In unincorporated Harris County, no fill may be placed in a floodway, and work there needs drawings stamped by a Texas-licensed architect or engineer. Inside Houston, the Floodplain Management Office issues permits for floodway construction. Texas sellers must also say on the disclosure notice whether the property is wholly or partly in a floodway, which the statute defines by the regulatory floodway shown on the FIRM.

Sources: FEMA EMI IS-274: Regulatory floodway · Harris County Office of the County Engineer: Permits FAQ · Houston Permitting Center: Floodplain Management Office · Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Base flood elevation (BFE) is the water height the 1% annual chance flood is expected to reach, and it is printed on the map in zones such as AE. A house is compared to it using measured elevations: the lowest adjacent grade, which is the lowest ground touching the building, and the lowest floor, which is the floor of the lowest enclosed area. FEMA requires new and substantially improved buildings to have the lowest floor at or above the BFE. Harris County's permit office compares lowest adjacent grade with the BFE to decide whether a permit is processed as inside or outside the 100-year floodplain. An elevation certificate records these measurements.

Sources: FEMA glossary (L): LOMA, LOMR, LOMR-F, lowest floor, lowest adjacent grade · Harris County Office of the County Engineer: Permits FAQ · FloodSmart: Elevation certificates Checked Oct 20, 2026

Request a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA's online LOMC application or the paper MT-EZ form. The MT-EZ asks FEMA to remove a single structure or legally recorded parcel from the Special Flood Hazard Area, and the parcel must be described by metes and bounds certified by a registered professional engineer or licensed land surveyor. A LOMA only applies to ground that has not been raised with fill; filled sites use a different process (LOMR-F). Many applicants hire a surveyor to prepare an elevation certificate first to see whether the structure sits above the base flood elevation. Inside Houston, the Floodplain Management Office also manages map change requests.

Sources: FEMA: MT-EZ form (LOMA for a single structure or lot) · FloodSmart: What are flood zones and maps? · FEMA glossary (L): LOMA, LOMR, LOMR-F, lowest floor, lowest adjacent grade · Houston Permitting Center: Floodplain Management Office Checked Oct 20, 2026

It is the lender's official check of whether the home sits in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Fannie Mae requires lenders and servicers to make this call using FEMA's Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form, and treats every zone that begins with A or V as a Special Flood Hazard Area. The determination is ordered by the lender as part of the loan, not by the buyer. Buyers can still check ahead by searching the address on FEMA's Map Service Center and printing a FIRMette, so a high-risk result does not show up as a surprise late in the transaction.

Sources: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B7-3-06 Flood Insurance Requirements · FEMA Flood Map Service Center Checked Oct 20, 2026

It depends on where the buildings sit, not the lot lines. Under Fannie Mae's Selling Guide, flood insurance is required when any part of the principal structure is in a Special Flood Hazard Area. If only a detached residential structure that secures the loan is in the hazard area, coverage is required for that structure. A detached non-residential structure in the hazard area does not trigger the requirement when the main house is outside it. Lenders can set stricter rules, and buildings outside the mapped zone can still flood, so print a FIRMette and look at where each structure falls.

Sources: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B7-3-06 Flood Insurance Requirements · FEMA Flood Map Service Center · FloodSmart: What are flood zones and maps? Checked Oct 20, 2026

Not all of them yet. NOAA Atlas 14 raised rainfall estimates for the region, and newer studies use it. Harris County's MAAPnext project is building new models and preliminary maps from Atlas 14, but as of October 2026 its maps were drafts for information only, not for insurance or regulation. The San Jacinto River Watershed Study, which also used Atlas 14, reported that updated modeling raised the average 1% annual chance water surface in its study area by roughly 0.5 to 4.5 feet and called the current floodplain maps outdated. Until new maps take effect, the effective FIRM still governs insurance and permits.

Sources: MAAPnext (Harris County Flood Control District) · HCFCD: C-17 San Jacinto River Watershed Study Checked Oct 20, 2026

You may become subject to a lender's flood insurance requirement, but FloodSmart describes ways to soften the change. Buying or renewing a policy before the new map takes effect can help, because NFIP premium increases are generally capped at 18% a year until the full-risk rate is reached. If a map update moves your building into a Special Flood Hazard Area, you may qualify for a Newly Mapped discount by buying or renewing within 12 months of the update. FloodSmart also lists a one-day waiting period for a policy bought within 12 months of a property being newly mapped into a high-risk zone. Confirm details with an agent.

Sources: FloodSmart: What are flood zones and maps? · FloodSmart: Buy a flood insurance policy Checked Oct 20, 2026

It is the city or county that regulates building at that address. FloodSmart says local floodplain managers usually sit in the building, permitting, engineering or land use department. Inside Houston city limits, the Floodplain Management Office at 1002 Washington Ave. issues floodplain permits, manages map changes and answers floodplain questions (832-394-8854, weekdays 8 to 5, as of October 2026). For unincorporated Harris County, the County Engineer's floodplain group at 10555 Northwest Freeway handles permits and floodplain questions, and its permit FAQ points owners to the county GIS map to check floodplain status. Other cities and counties have their own administrators, so confirm which jurisdiction the address falls in.

Sources: FloodSmart: Elevation certificates · Houston Permitting Center: Floodplain Management Office · Harris County Engineering: Floodplain Management · Harris County Office of the County Engineer: Permits FAQ Checked Oct 20, 2026

It is a statewide map of flood risk, infrastructure and mitigation data from the Texas Water Development Board's 2024 State Flood Plan, linked from TexasFlood.org. It is useful for regional context, but the site notes the data is refreshed only every five years and advises also checking local studies and FEMA maps. For a single property, the effective FEMA FIRM is still the map used for insurance and permits, and county tools such as Harris County's Flood Education Mapping Tool give a closer local view. Treat the state viewer as background, not a property determination.

Sources: TexasFlood.org · FEMA Flood Map Service Center · HCFCD: Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool Checked Oct 20, 2026

Because they are built for different purposes. The effective FEMA FIRM is the regulatory map for insurance and permits. Harris County's Flood Education Mapping Tool displays FEMA floodplains but states it is not the effective FIRM. MAAPnext maps are drafts released for awareness only. The San Jacinto River Watershed Study produced non-regulatory inundation maps that do not replace FEMA's maps. The Flood Warning System's inundation layer shows estimated extent only along gaged channels and leaves out ponding and sheet flow. When maps disagree, rely on the effective FIRM for legal and insurance questions and ask the local floodplain office about the rest.

Sources: HCFCD: Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool · MAAPnext (Harris County Flood Control District) · HCFCD: C-17 San Jacinto River Watershed Study · Harris County Flood Warning System help · FEMA Flood Map Service Center Checked Oct 20, 2026

No. Insurance claim histories for individual properties are not publicly searchable. FEMA publishes NFIP claims data on OpenFEMA, but it is redacted to protect policyholders: there is no street address, and latitude and longitude are rounded to one decimal place so a record cannot be tied to a house. Private insurers report claims to the CLUE database, but the Texas Department of Insurance tells buyers to ask the owner for that report. In practice, a buyer learns a property's claim history from the seller: the Texas disclosure notice, the seller's claim paperwork and a CLUE report the seller orders.

Sources: OpenFEMA: FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims v2 · TDI: Check your property's insurance claim history · Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) Checked Oct 20, 2026

A CLUE report is an insurance claims history kept in the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange. The Texas Department of Insurance says it lists claims filed on a house over the past seven years, even claims made before the current owner bought it. Entries typically show the date of loss, the type of loss, the amount paid, the policy and claim numbers and the insurance company. Insurers use the history when pricing homeowners coverage. TDI notes that questions you ask an agent about your policy are not supposed to be reported, so be clear when you are only asking a question rather than filing a claim.

Sources: TDI: Check your property's insurance claim history · TDI: Get a free CLUE about your insurance claims history Checked Oct 20, 2026

The owner can, and a buyer should ask the seller for it. The Texas Department of Insurance says owners can get a free copy of the report on property they own once a year from LexisNexis by requesting a Consumer Disclosure Report on its website. TDI advises anyone buying a home to ask the current owner to share the property's CLUE report. If something on the report is wrong, the owner can dispute it with LexisNexis or add an explanation. TDI takes questions at 800-252-3439. Asking for the report early, during the option period, leaves time to follow up on any claims it shows.

Sources: TDI: Check your property's insurance claim history · TDI: Buying a house? Ask for a CLUE report · TDI: Get a free CLUE about your insurance claims history Checked Oct 20, 2026

Do not count on it. The Texas Department of Insurance pages that explain CLUE reports describe claims reported by insurers but do not say whether National Flood Insurance Program claims appear. Treat flood claims as a separate question. The Texas seller's disclosure asks directly whether the seller has filed a flood damage claim with any insurance provider, including the NFIP, and whether the seller received FEMA or SBA assistance for flood damage. Ask the seller for NFIP claim letters, adjuster reports and payment records along with the CLUE report.

Sources: TDI: Check your property's insurance claim history · TDI: Get a free CLUE about your insurance claims history · Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Generally not from a public source. Repetitive loss status comes from NFIP policy and claim files, which FEMA keeps under the Privacy Act. A 2001 Federal Register notice described repetitive loss properties as generally having at least two losses of $1,000 or more within any 10-year period, and created a limited routine use letting FEMA release loss history to a current owner appealing a repetitive loss designation. That release goes to the owner, not to buyers or the public. A buyer's practical route is the seller: ask in writing about every flood claim, and ask the seller to share any FEMA correspondence about the property.

Sources: Federal Register, Sept. 11, 2001: FEMA Privacy Act notice, NFIP files (repetitive loss routine use) · OpenFEMA: FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims v2 · Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) Checked Oct 20, 2026

It shows patterns, not addresses. FEMA's OpenFEMA "FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims" dataset holds about 2.7 million claim transactions, updated roughly monthly, with fields such as date of loss, amounts paid, cause of damage and flood zone. Location is limited to state, reported city, ZIP code, county code, census tract and block group, plus coordinates rounded to one decimal place for privacy. There is no street address, and FEMA notes rounded points can land in the wrong county. You can see how many claims were paid in a ZIP code or tract, but you cannot tell whether a particular house had a claim.

Sources: OpenFEMA: FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims v2 · Data.gov: FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims (OpenFEMA) Checked Oct 20, 2026

The buyout program pages do not publish them. Harris County Flood Control District buys homes through its voluntary Home Buyout Program, and Harris County Housing & Community Development runs buyout and relocation programs in designated Buyout Areas, but neither page reviewed posts a list or map of purchased properties. The Flood Control District has a buyout hotline, 346-286-4020, and a public information request process. Bought-out land is generally cleared and kept as open space, so vacant lots owned by the district are a clue worth asking about. Owners in a designated Buyout Area receive an official notice and can check their status with the county.

Sources: HCFCD: Home Buyout Program · HCFCD: Home Buyout Program FAQ · Harris County Housing & Community Development: Buyout & Relocation Programs Checked Oct 20, 2026

It means the Flood Control District chose that land for its buyout program, which targets areas several feet deep in the floodplain where channel or detention projects were not cost-effective. After a buyout, the structures are removed, utilities are capped and the ground is leveled. The land usually returns to open space, and a FEMA deed restriction tied to the grant means it can never again be developed as private property. Nearby buyouts are not a ruling on any particular house, so check that home's own map zone, elevation and history, and call the district's buyout hotline if you want to know whether an area is still a target.

Sources: HCFCD: Home Buyout Program · HCFCD: Home Buyout Program FAQ Checked Oct 20, 2026

Sometimes. Inside Houston, the Permitting Center's online search shows basic history for permits sold in the last three years; older or complete records come from the city's Open Records section (832-394-8800, as of October 2026). In unincorporated Harris County, building in the floodplain requires a county permit, and records are requested through the County Engineer's records request process. A repair permit can show that work happened, but it will not always say why. Ask the seller for repair invoices and permits, and compare dates with known storms. Missing permits do not prove anything either way.

Sources: Houston Permitting Center: Sold permits search · Harris County Engineering: Floodplain Management · Harris County Office of the County Engineer: Permits FAQ Checked Oct 20, 2026

Ask the local floodplain office for the address. FEMA's guidance says substantial damage determinations are made by local community officials, not state or federal officials, when repair costs reach 50% or more of the structure's pre-damage market value. A house that received that determination had to be brought up to current floodplain standards, such as elevation, before repairs could be permitted. In unincorporated Harris County, unresolved floodplain violations can lead to a Certificate of Non-Compliance recorded in the real property records, which a title search may reveal. Inside Houston, start with the Floodplain Management Office.

Sources: FEMA: Substantial Damage Quick Guide · Harris County Office of the County Engineer: Permits FAQ · Houston Permitting Center: Floodplain Management Office Checked Oct 20, 2026

Two official sources publish it. The USGS recorded 2,123 high-water marks in Texas after the August to September 2017 flooding and used them to build flood extent and depth layers for several basins, including the San Jacinto River basin. The data is public through the USGS data catalog, and the USGS Flood Event Viewer offers map-based downloads of event data such as high-water marks and storm sensors. The Harris County Flood Control District posts its final Harvey flood report, estimated maximum inundation exhibits and a high-water mark summary sheet. The district notes these exhibits do not show whether individual structures flooded.

Sources: USGS: Flood inundation data for the Aug-Sept 2017 flood event in Texas · USGS: Flood Event Viewer · HCFCD: Hurricane Harvey countywide impacts Checked Oct 20, 2026

Use the historical tools on the Harris County Flood Warning System. On the Historical tab under rainfall data, choose how many days to count back and the date and time to count back from, then show the results on the map. Each gage's site page shows stream elevation and rainfall graphs and can be exported to Excel. This tells you what nearby gages recorded, not what happened at a house. The inundation layer covers only gaged channels, leaves out ponding and sheet flow, and the district makes no guarantee of the data's accuracy.

Sources: Harris County Flood Warning System help · HCFCD: Flood Warning System · Harris County Flood Warning System Checked Oct 20, 2026

Federal disaster aid for flood damage can come with an ongoing flood insurance obligation. People who received disaster assistance to repair flood damage may have been issued an NFIP Group Flood Insurance Policy, which lasts three years. FEMA's summary says that if the property is still in a Special Flood Hazard Area when it expires, the owner must buy their own policy, and a lapse could make them ineligible for certain federal disaster assistance if flooding happens again. That is one reason the Texas disclosure asks whether the seller received FEMA or SBA flood assistance. Ask the seller for the paperwork and confirm with an agent.

Sources: FEMA NFIP Group Flood Insurance Policy summary (June 2023) · Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Only as far as the seller knows. The Texas disclosure flood items ask whether the seller is aware of things like previous water entering a structure from a natural flood, and whether the seller has filed a flood claim or received FEMA or SBA help. A seller who bought recently may not know what happened before. To look further back, ask the seller to order a CLUE report, which the Texas Department of Insurance says shows claims from the past seven years even if the current owner did not own the home then. Also check permit records and the seller's own purchase documents.

Sources: Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) · TDI: Check your property's insurance claim history Checked Oct 20, 2026

Building coverage pays for direct flood damage to the structure itself. As of October 2026, FloodSmart lists residential building limits up to $250,000. Covered items include the foundation and foundation walls, electrical and plumbing systems, furnaces, water heaters and central air, built-in appliances, permanently installed carpet and cabinets, fuel and well tanks, and solar equipment. A detached garage is covered but uses up to 10% of the building limit. Losses above the limit are the owner's responsibility, so compare the limit with the home's rebuilding cost and ask an agent about private flood options if needed.

Sources: FloodSmart: Buy a flood insurance policy · FloodSmart agents: Coverage · FloodSmart agents: What is covered by a flood insurance policy for homeowners Checked Oct 20, 2026

Contents coverage is a separate policy for belongings, and renters can buy it. As of October 2026, FloodSmart lists contents limits up to $100,000 for homeowners and renters. It covers items such as clothing, furniture, electronics, curtains, washers and dryers, portable and window air conditioners, microwaves, freezers and the food in them, and carpet laid over wood floors. Valuables such as original art and furs are capped at $2,500. Contents and building coverage carry separate deductibles. Anyone in a participating NFIP community is eligible, including condo and townhouse owners.

Sources: FloodSmart: Buy a flood insurance policy · FloodSmart agents: What is covered by a flood insurance policy for homeowners · FloodSmart agents: Coverage · FEMA NFIP Summary of Coverage (Dec 2023) Checked Oct 20, 2026

An NFIP policy leaves out several things owners often assume are covered. Exclusions include temporary housing and extra living expenses while the home is repaired, property outside the insured building such as landscaping, decks, patios, fences, pools, hot tubs and septic systems, cars and most self-propelled vehicles, cash, precious metals and valuable papers, personal property kept in a basement, and business interruption losses. Mold or moisture damage the owner could have avoided is also excluded. Sewer backup is covered only when it results directly from flooding, not from a clogged pipe. Read the policy's full list with your agent.

Sources: FloodSmart: Buy a flood insurance policy · FloodSmart agents: What is covered by a flood insurance policy for homeowners · FloodSmart agents: Coverage Checked Oct 20, 2026

For the NFIP, a flood is more than water in one house. FEMA's summary of coverage describes it as an excess of water on normally dry land that partly or completely covers at least two acres, or two or more properties, one of which is yours. Causes include overflowing inland or tidal waters, rapid surface runoff and certain mudflows. Water damage that does not meet this definition, such as a burst pipe, is a homeowners insurance question, not a flood claim. Ask your agent how a specific situation would be handled before you need to file.

Sources: FEMA NFIP Summary of Coverage (Dec 2023) Checked Oct 20, 2026

It depends on what is damaged and how the home is insured. Under FEMA's summary of coverage, a building claim is settled at replacement cost, up to the amount purchased, when the home is your primary residence and the building coverage equals at least 80% of the home's replacement cost. Otherwise the building is paid at actual cash value, which subtracts depreciation. Contents are always paid at actual cash value, with no option for full replacement value. This is one reason to compare your building limit with a current estimate of rebuilding cost.

Sources: FEMA NFIP Summary of Coverage (Dec 2023) · FloodSmart agents: Coverage Checked Oct 20, 2026

Most new NFIP policies start 30 days after purchase, but FloodSmart lists exceptions. There is no wait when the policy is bought in connection with making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage, and none when coverage is changed at renewal. A one-day wait applies when a property is newly mapped into a high-risk zone and the policy is bought within 12 months of the map update, and also for certain flooding tied to wildfires on federal land. Policies run one year, with a 30-day grace period after expiration if the full premium is paid by the end of it.

Sources: FloodSmart: Buy a flood insurance policy · FEMA: Flood Insurance (NFIP) Checked Oct 20, 2026

It is extra NFIP coverage, up to $30,000 as of October 2026, to help bring a flood-damaged building up to floodplain rules. It applies when the community declares the insured building substantially damaged, meaning flood damage of 50% or more of pre-flood market value, or repetitively damaged. The money can go toward elevating, floodproofing, relocating or demolishing the building. FloodSmart notes eligibility conditions such as an NFIP policy, a location in a Special Flood Hazard Area and not having reached the $250,000 payment limit. An owner can also assign the payment to the community for a larger mitigation project.

Sources: FEMA EMI IS-1104: Coverage D, Increased Cost of Compliance · FloodSmart agents: Increased Cost of Compliance claims · FEMA NFIP Summary of Coverage (Dec 2023) Checked Oct 20, 2026

FloodSmart lists several steps that may reduce an NFIP premium. Elevating all covered machinery and equipment, such as the air conditioner and water heater, to at least the floor above the first floor may earn a discount. Proper flood openings in an enclosure or crawlspace can qualify too. Raising the whole house above the base flood elevation generally lowers the rate, and an elevation certificate may document a first floor height that helps. Communities in FEMA's Community Rating System may also earn residents a discount. NFIP's mitigation discount tool estimates savings, and an agent can quote the actual effect.

Sources: FloodSmart: Ways to pay less (mitigation discounts) · FloodSmart: Homeowner checklist · FloodSmart agents: Risk Rating 2.0, what goes into the rate Checked Oct 20, 2026

It is FEMA's voluntary program that rewards communities for floodplain management beyond the minimum, and residents of participating communities may get a flood insurance discount. FloodSmart's homeowner checklist suggests checking your community's status and asking local officials to join if it does not take part. FEMA's Community Status Book dataset shows whether each community participates in the NFIP and its Community Rating System status. The Texas Water Development Board notes that adopting higher standards may help a community qualify. Your agent can tell you whether a discount applies to a given address.

Sources: FloodSmart: Homeowner checklist · FEMA NFIP Community Status Book dataset (Data.gov) · TWDB: Participation in the National Flood Insurance Program Checked Oct 20, 2026

Most Texas cities and counties are, but check the specific community. Texas Water Code 16.3145 requires each city and county to adopt the floodplain rules needed to take part in the NFIP, and the Texas Water Development Board points to FEMA's Community Status Book to confirm status. That dataset labels each community as participating, not participating, or suspended or withdrawn. It matters because NFIP coverage is sold only in participating communities, and Fannie Mae will not buy a loan on a property in a Special Flood Hazard Area if the community does not participate.

Sources: TWDB: Participation in the National Flood Insurance Program · FEMA NFIP Community Status Book dataset (Data.gov) · FEMA: Flood Insurance (NFIP) · Fannie Mae Selling Guide B7-3-06 Flood Insurance Requirements Checked Oct 20, 2026

Report the loss to your insurer right away and ask about an advance payment. FEMA's guidance says to photograph or video damage before removing anything, separate damaged from undamaged property, list damaged belongings if you have contents coverage, and gather receipts, serial numbers and records of earlier flood repairs. You must sign and submit a Proof of Loss, with the building estimate and contents inventory, within 60 days of the date of loss. Review the adjuster's estimate for missed items; you can still file on time and submit a supplemental claim later. Questions go to your agent or the NFIP at 877-336-2627.

Sources: FEMA: Submit flood insurance proof of loss within 60 days · FEMA NFIP Summary of Coverage (Dec 2023) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Start with your agent or insurance company, then use the state and federal contacts. The Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel says the NFIP handles flood claims and policy questions. The Texas Department of Insurance takes complaints at 1-800-252-3439 or [email protected]. OPIC answers general questions at 1-877-611-6742. FEMA's disaster assistance line is 800-621-3362, and the NFIP can be reached at 877-336-2627. If you still need help, the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate works on fair treatment of policyholders. Contact details were current as of October 2026.

Sources: Texas OPIC: Flood insurance, get help · FEMA: Flood Insurance (NFIP) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Yes, an NFIP building policy can be transferred to the new buyer when the home sells. FloodSmart's agent guidance explains that the seller cannot take the policy to a new home, because the premium is tied to that property and its risk, but the buyer may be able to assume the existing policy. Ask the seller early for the declarations page and whether the policy will be assigned at closing. Compare the assumed coverage with the buyer's lender requirements and rebuilding cost, and get a separate quote so you can compare options.

Sources: FloodSmart agents: Answers to clients' frequently asked questions · FloodSmart: Buy a flood insurance policy Checked Oct 20, 2026

For loans sold to Fannie Mae, the minimum on a one- to four-unit home is the lowest of three numbers: 100% of the replacement cost of the improvements, the maximum NFIP coverage available, or the unpaid principal balance of the loan. The deductible cannot exceed the NFIP's current maximum, and private policies are accepted if they are at least equal to NFIP coverage. Lenders can require more than this minimum and can require flood insurance outside high-risk zones. Flood premiums can usually be escrowed with the mortgage; ask the lender how it handles that.

Sources: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B7-3-06 Flood Insurance Requirements · FloodSmart agents: Answers to clients' frequently asked questions Checked Oct 20, 2026

For an attached condo building in a Special Flood Hazard Area, the association usually carries the flood policy. Fannie Mae requires the HOA to maintain an NFIP Residential Condominium Building Association Policy (RCBAP) or equal private coverage for the whole building and common elements, with building coverage of at least the lesser of 80% of replacement cost or the NFIP maximum per unit. An individual unit owner's dwelling policy can stand in only in certain cases, such as detached condos. Owners can buy their own contents coverage. Ask the association for its flood policy declarations before closing.

Sources: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B7-3-06 Flood Insurance Requirements · FloodSmart: Buy a flood insurance policy Checked Oct 20, 2026

Texas Property Code 5.019 requires a seller of property adjoining certain impoundments, those built under Water Code chapter 11 with at least 5,000 acre-feet of storage at normal level, to give the buyer written notice that water levels can fluctuate from water use, drought or flood. The notice is due on or before the contract's effective date. If it comes late, the buyer may terminate for any reason within seven days of receiving it, and a seller with actual knowledge who fails to give it may face a misrepresentation claim. Whether a specific lakefront lot is covered is a question for a real estate attorney.

Sources: Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) Checked Oct 20, 2026

They refer to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs, not ordinary lakes. Property Code 5.008 defines a reservoir as a water impoundment project operated by the Corps to retain water or delay runoff, and a flood pool as the land next to such a reservoir above its normal maximum operating level, which is subject to controlled inundation. The disclosure also asks whether the property has flooded because a reservoir failed or released water. A lake run by a city or river authority is not automatically a "reservoir" under this definition, so read the footnote carefully and ask an attorney if unsure.

Sources: Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Several, depending on the loan and the location. For FHA-insured new one- to four-unit homes in a Special Flood Hazard Area, HUD's rule requires the lowest floor to be at least two feet above the base flood elevation when the building permit application was submitted on or after January 1, 2025. Local rules can be stricter; unincorporated Harris County, for example, sets its own elevation requirement above the 500-year flood level. A never-occupied new home is exempt from the Texas seller's disclosure, so ask the builder in writing for the elevation certificate, floodplain permit and drainage plan for the lot.

Sources: HUD FHA INFO 2024-20: Federal Flood Risk Management Standard final rule · Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) · Harris County Office of the County Engineer: Permits FAQ Checked Oct 20, 2026

The seller may not have to give the Texas disclosure notice, so flood research falls more on the buyer. Property Code 5.008 exempts foreclosure and court-ordered sales, sales by a lender that took the property through foreclosure or a deed in lieu, sales by a fiduciary such as an estate executor or trustee, and several other transfers. Without that notice, check the effective FEMA map, ask the local floodplain office for any elevation certificate or permit file, request any claim records the seller has, and get a flood insurance quote before your option period ends.

Sources: Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) · FEMA Flood Map Service Center · FloodSmart: Elevation certificates Checked Oct 20, 2026

No law requires it, but the risk does not change with how you pay. The federal purchase requirement applies to buildings in high-risk zones with mortgages from government-backed lenders, so a cash buyer is not forced to buy coverage. FloodSmart strongly recommends flood insurance in every zone and notes that standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood. One practical point: the waiting-period exception for policies tied to a mortgage does not help a cash buyer, so a new NFIP policy will usually take 30 days to start. Arrange coverage before closing if you want it in place on day one.

Sources: FEMA: Flood Insurance (NFIP) · FloodSmart: What are flood zones and maps? · FloodSmart: Buy a flood insurance policy Checked Oct 20, 2026

Find out which program applies before you buy or list. Harris County Housing & Community Development runs buyout programs in designated Buyout Areas deep in the floodplain. Its page describes a mandatory program, where the county can pursue eminent domain if an owner rejects its offer after a 30-day counteroffer period, alongside a voluntary option. Owners in designated areas receive an official notice and can check their status by email or phone. The Flood Control District's own program is voluntary. Ask the seller about any buyout notice, and call the county or the district's buyout hotline (346-286-4020) to confirm.

Sources: Harris County Housing & Community Development: Buyout & Relocation Programs · HCFCD: Home Buyout Program · HCFCD: Home Buyout Program FAQ Checked Oct 20, 2026

Contact the agency that regulates the address and get the work permitted or removed. In unincorporated Harris County, development without a permit is prohibited, and a violation is closed only by removing the work or permitting it. If it is not resolved in time, the county may record a Certificate of Non-Compliance in the real property records, which it says can prevent a clear title. The county's inspections group handles removing violations (713-274-3924, as of October 2026). Inside Houston, start with the Floodplain Management Office. Fixing this early avoids a title problem in the middle of a sale.

Sources: Harris County Office of the County Engineer: Permits FAQ · Houston Permitting Center: Floodplain Management Office Checked Oct 20, 2026

It can help, and Texas regulators tell buyers to ask for one. The Texas Department of Insurance advises home buyers to ask the owner for the property's CLUE report, which lists insurance claims from the past seven years with dates, loss types and amounts paid. Owners can get their own copy free each year from LexisNexis and can dispute errors or add explanations before sharing it. A CLUE report does not replace the Texas seller's disclosure, which separately asks about flood claims with any insurer, including the NFIP, and FEMA or SBA assistance.

Sources: TDI: Check your property's insurance claim history · TDI: Buying a house? Ask for a CLUE report · TDI: Get a free CLUE about your insurance claims history · Texas Property Code ch. 5 (Sec. 5.008, 5.019) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Several outdoor features are not covered at all. NFIP policies exclude property outside the insured building, including swimming pools, hot tubs, decks, patios, fences, landscaping and septic systems. A detached garage is covered, but FloodSmart's agent guidance says it uses up to 10% of the building limit. For lenders, Fannie Mae requires coverage on a detached residential structure in a Special Flood Hazard Area that secures the loan, while a detached non-residential structure does not trigger the requirement when the main house is outside it. Ask your agent how each structure on the lot would be treated.

Sources: FloodSmart agents: What is covered by a flood insurance policy for homeowners · FloodSmart agents: Coverage · Fannie Mae Selling Guide B7-3-06 Flood Insurance Requirements Checked Oct 20, 2026

The City of Houston owns Lake Houston, its dam and the Lake Houston Pump Station, and the Coastal Water Authority operates and maintains them under contract. The Texas Water Development Board lists the dam on the San Jacinto River as completed in December 1953, with impoundment beginning in April 1954. The lake sits in Harris County about 18 miles northeast of Houston, with a normal operating elevation of 42.4 feet and about 134,122 acre-feet of capacity based on a 2011 survey. The lake is primarily a water supply reservoir; SJRA operates its own separate pump station there.

Sources: TWDB: Lake Houston (San Jacinto River Basin) · SJRA: Lake Conroe-Lake Houston Joint Reservoir Operations Study, Public Meeting No. 1 (Mar. 2026) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Use the Water Data for Texas reservoir page for Lake Houston, which the Texas Water Development Board links. It reports the latest water level from USGS gage 08072000, the percent of conservation storage that is full, and comparisons with earlier dates, and it offers CSV downloads. The page lists the conservation pool elevation as 42.38 feet (NAVD88) as of October 2026 and notes that recent readings are provisional. Lake level shows reservoir conditions, not flooding at any address; for creeks and streets nearby, use the Harris County Flood Warning System.

Sources: Water Data for Texas: Lake Houston · TWDB: Lake Houston (San Jacinto River Basin) · Harris County Flood Warning System Checked Oct 20, 2026

Lake Conroe sits on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, upstream of Lake Houston. SJRA says the lake's normal pool is 201 feet, a flowage easement lets it rise to 207 feet in extreme storms and the dam top is 212 feet. When the lake rises above 201 feet, SJRA makes controlled releases, keeping peak release below peak inflow so the lake temporarily stores water and reduces downstream peaks. SJRA does not pre-release before storms, saying that can worsen downstream flooding and that downstream partners asked it not to. It coordinates releases with Harris and Montgomery County emergency managers, the Flood Control District and the Coastal Water Authority.

Sources: Ready Harris: SJRA community reminders for water release protocols · Ready Harris: SJRA continues controlled releases (Dec. 2018) · SJRA: Lake Conroe Checked Oct 20, 2026

SJRA's website links live dashboards for the lake level, releases and storm events, with the lake level from USGS gage 08067600. Its Contrail system shows lake levels, releases, rainfall and stream flows, and SJRA offers email updates at sjra.net/updates plus text or email alerts. During storms, SJRA also points people to its social media, the Harris County Flood Warning System and National Weather Service river forecasts. For a property downstream, pair the release information with the nearest river gage and NWS forecast rather than relying on lake data alone.

Sources: San Jacinto River Authority · Ready Harris: SJRA continues controlled releases (Dec. 2018) · Ready Harris: SJRA community reminders for water release protocols · Harris County Flood Warning System Checked Oct 20, 2026

It is a flood mitigation strategy in which Lake Conroe is lowered slightly below its 201-foot normal pool during parts of spring and late summer to leave room for storm runoff. Under the 2022 compromise SJRA described, the City of Houston, which owns two-thirds of the lake's water supply, could call for releases to 200.5 feet from April 1 to June 1, and to 200.5 feet from August 1 and 200.0 feet from September 1 until October 1. No water is released if the lake is already at or below target. That document said the program ran through 2023 with annual review, so confirm the current year's plan with SJRA.

Sources: SJRA: Flood Mitigation Strategy FAQs (2022 compromise) · SJRA press release, Nov. 21, 2019: seasonal lowering · San Jacinto River Authority Checked Oct 20, 2026

It is a City of Houston project to add gates to the Lake Houston dam so more water can be released during floods. A 2021 city presentation said the goal is more outflow capacity to reduce flood risk upstream without affecting reservoir operations, downstream property or dam safety, and listed a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant of $4,375,199 for Phase 1 planning. An SJRA study presentation in March 2026 described the design at 30%, with 11 new 20-by-20-foot radial gates adding about 78,000 cubic feet per second of capacity, and listed the Flood Control District as a co-funder. Schedules have shifted, so check current status with the city.

Sources: City of Houston: Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project public meeting (July 8, 2021) · SJRA: Lake Conroe-Lake Houston Joint Reservoir Operations Study, Public Meeting No. 1 (Mar. 2026) Checked Oct 20, 2026

It is a study of how the two lakes can be run most safely and efficiently together. According to SJRA's March 2026 public meeting presentation, it began in September 2025 and will evaluate whether pre-releases are feasible, including the effect on water supply, and build a Lake Houston flow forecasting tool to support a gate operations policy for the planned dam gates. Funding listed includes $500,000 in grant money plus local match from the City of Houston, the City of Humble and SJRA. Public meetings were planned in Humble (March 2026), the Lake Conroe area (mid-2026) and The Woodlands (late 2026).

Sources: SJRA: Lake Conroe-Lake Houston Joint Reservoir Operations Study, Public Meeting No. 1 (Mar. 2026) Checked Oct 20, 2026

It is a Harris County Flood Control District project (F-14) to improve drainage along the Kingwood Diversion Ditch and Bens Branch. The district's project page describes channel modifications, diverting flow from Bens Branch, bridge replacements and land for a new outfall to the West Fork San Jacinto River, with preliminary engineering funded in 2021. In January 2026, the Texas Water Development Board considered a $5 million state grant for the first construction phase, describing a widened ditch and new outfall expected to lower peak water levels along Bens Branch and the ditch in heavy rain. Check the district for the current schedule.

Sources: TWDB Board item, Jan. 22, 2026: Kingwood Diversion Ditch Improvements grant Checked Oct 20, 2026

The main one is the San Jacinto Regional Watershed Master Drainage Plan, led by the Flood Control District with SJRA, Montgomery County and the City of Houston, and funded largely by a FEMA grant. It studied about 2,900 square miles across seven counties using Atlas 14 rainfall, produced non-regulatory inundation maps and identified 16 priority projects: six channel improvements and ten detention basins or reservoirs. Separately, the district and SJRA partnered on sediment management in the watershed, including a 2020 agreement to plan and build sand traps. Study maps inform planning but do not replace FEMA's effective maps.

Sources: HCFCD: C-17 San Jacinto River Watershed Study · SJRA: San Jacinto Regional Watershed Master Drainage Plan · HCFCD: Z-02 Sediment Management and Removal in the San Jacinto River Watershed Checked Oct 20, 2026

Start with the effective FEMA map for the exact address on the Map Service Center, then add local tools for the county and city the property is in. For Harris County addresses, use the Flood Education Mapping Tool for floodplain and watershed layers and the Flood Warning System for nearby gages and alerts. Confirm whether the address is inside a city, such as Houston or Humble, or unincorporated, since that decides which floodplain office holds permits. For Montgomery County addresses, contact the county's floodplain administrator. Along the San Jacinto, also follow SJRA lake and release data and NWS river forecasts.

Sources: FEMA Flood Map Service Center · Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool · Harris County Flood Warning System · San Jacinto River Authority · NWS West Gulf River Forecast Center · FloodSmart: Elevation certificates Checked Oct 20, 2026

The Harris County Flood Warning System offers free email or text alerts for rainfall and water levels at gages you choose, with default or custom thresholds, through fwsalerts.org. The Flood Control District says alerts can be set for specific bayous and tributaries, and there is also an RSS feed for rainfall alarms. Statewide, the TxGIO Flood Viewer linked from TexasFlood.org lets you subscribe to notices when a river near your property rises. These alerts are not evacuation orders; follow local officials and National Weather Service warnings during a storm.

Sources: HCFCD: Flood Warning System · Harris County Flood Warning System · TexasFlood.org Checked Oct 20, 2026

Each gage shows a channel status, labeled No Flooding, Flooding Possible or Flooding Likely, and water level described as in bank, close to bank or out of bank. Rainfall totals default to the last 24 hours. The inundation layer estimates flooded extent in depth ranges from under 1 foot to over 6 feet, but the help page says it can lag up to 15 minutes, updates only when gage readings change by half a foot, covers only gaged channels and leaves out ponding and sheet flow. It is not a warning or evacuation system. Search an address to find the nearest gage and open its site page.

Sources: Harris County Flood Warning System · Harris County Flood Warning System help Checked Oct 20, 2026

They describe expected impacts at a river gage as water rises. The NWS sets stages for each category. Minor flooding means minimal or no property damage but possibly some public threat. Moderate flooding means some structures and roads near the stream are inundated, with some evacuations. Major flooding means extensive inundation of structures and roads and significant evacuations. Categories are tied to a specific gage, so when checking a property, find the nearest forecast point and read its categories rather than assuming a regional label applies to every house.

Sources: NWS: Guide to Hydrologic Information · NWS West Gulf River Forecast Center Checked Oct 20, 2026

The National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center covers Texas river basins. Its site offers a quick briefing, an observations and forecast summary, a 5-day flood outlook, observed rainfall maps and an interactive map of forecast points that links to detailed pages on water.noaa.gov. Forecast hydrographs show recent readings and the forecast for the next few days, and some points have inundation maps for specific stages. NWS forecasts rely on the USGS stream gage network. Pair these with SJRA release data and the Harris County Flood Warning System for local streams.

Sources: NWS West Gulf River Forecast Center · NWS: Guide to Hydrologic Information · Ready Harris: SJRA community reminders for water release protocols Checked Oct 20, 2026

TexasFlood.org links several. The TxGIO Flood Viewer shows lake levels, river heights and real-time conditions, and lets you subscribe to alerts for a nearby river. The USGS Flood Decision Support Toolbox shows estimated water depths in hypothetical scenarios, such as how a river rising by a set amount would affect a particular house. TexMesonet shows real-time and seasonal weather station data, including rainfall and soil moisture. These tools are for awareness and planning, not insurance or permit decisions, which still rely on the effective FEMA map and local floodplain rules.

Sources: TexasFlood.org · FEMA Flood Map Service Center Checked Oct 20, 2026

Ask the permitting office and the seller, and check FEMA's map change records. In unincorporated Harris County, adding fill outside a hazard area requires a site plan and fill affidavit showing where fill went and how water will drain, and inside a Special Flood Hazard Area an architect or engineer must prepare mitigation and drainage documents. Fill is not allowed in a floodway. If fill was used to change a property's map status, FEMA would have issued a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA, and those letters appear in the Map Service Center results. A surveyor can compare current ground elevations with the base flood elevation.

Sources: Harris County Office of the County Engineer: Permits FAQ · FEMA glossary (L): LOMA, LOMR, LOMR-F, lowest floor, lowest adjacent grade · FEMA: MT-EZ form (LOMA for a single structure or lot) · FEMA EMI IS-273: MSC search results and products Checked Oct 20, 2026

Ask for an elevation certificate, which FloodSmart says records the building's location, characteristics and first floor height, with basements noted separately. Key numbers include the lowest floor, the lowest adjacent grade (the lowest ground touching the house) and, where mapped, the base flood elevation for comparison. Harris County's residential permit rules in the 100-year floodplain also call for the finished floor and garage threshold elevations. If utilities are raised, note the height of the air conditioner and other machinery, since elevated equipment may affect insurance discounts. A licensed surveyor, engineer or architect prepares the certificate.

Sources: FloodSmart: Elevation certificates · FEMA glossary (L): LOMA, LOMR, LOMR-F, lowest floor, lowest adjacent grade · Harris County Office of the County Engineer: Permits FAQ · FloodSmart: Ways to pay less (mitigation discounts) Checked Oct 20, 2026

It depends on the drain. The Harris County Flood Control District's jurisdiction covers the county's bayous, creeks and feeder waterways, but generally not street drainage, culverts or roadside ditches, which usually fall to the city, county or a local district. The Flood Education Mapping Tool shows channels with district identification numbers, which helps confirm whether a channel is a district facility. If it is, the district accepts service requests. For street drains and roadside ditches, contact the city or county road and drainage office for the address.

Sources: HCFCD: Home Buyout Program FAQ · Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool · HCFCD: Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool Checked Oct 20, 2026

Note where the equipment sits relative to the flood elevation. FloodSmart says raising items such as air conditioners and water heaters onto a platform or into an attic, above the base flood elevation, may earn a discount, and the NFIP's machinery and equipment discount applies when all covered equipment is raised to at least the floor above the first floor. Furnaces, water heaters and central air are covered under building coverage, so their placement affects potential damage. Raising or replacing equipment in a floodplain can require a permit, so ask the local floodplain office first.

Sources: FloodSmart: Homeowner checklist · FloodSmart: Ways to pay less (mitigation discounts) · FEMA NFIP Summary of Coverage (Dec 2023) Checked Oct 20, 2026

Build the records a claim will need now. FloodSmart's homeowner checklist recommends photographing or videoing major belongings and keeping copies of identification and insurance papers in a waterproof container. FEMA's claim guidance asks for receipts, appliance serial numbers and records of past flood repairs, plus photos of damage before anything is removed. Keep the policy declarations page, any elevation certificate and a list of contents where you can reach them away from the house. Good records also help when you sell, since buyers often ask for repair and claim documentation.

Sources: FloodSmart: Homeowner checklist · FEMA NFIP Summary of Coverage (Dec 2023) · FEMA: Submit flood insurance proof of loss within 60 days Checked Oct 20, 2026