Houston Flood Season: How to Prepare Your Home
· 7 min read · Prevention
Houston's flood season brings unpredictable heavy rains and tropical storms. Here's how to prepare your home and protect your family.
Houston is one of the most flood-prone major cities in the United States. With flat terrain, clay soil that doesn't absorb water well, rapid urban development, and frequent tropical weather systems, flooding is not a question of if — it's a question of when. Being prepared can save your property and potentially your life.
Houston's primary flood season runs from June through November, coinciding with the Atlantic hurricane season. However, Houston can experience severe flooding any time of year from heavy thunderstorms, stalled weather fronts, and rapid runoff from impervious urban surfaces. The Greater Houston area averages about 50 inches of rainfall annually.
Start your preparation by understanding your flood risk. Check FEMA flood maps at floodsmart.gov to determine if your property is in a designated flood zone. Even if you're not in a high-risk zone, remember that during Hurricane Harvey, two-thirds of flooded homes were outside designated flood zones. Every Houston home faces some flood risk.
Invest in flood insurance — and don't wait until a storm is approaching. There's typically a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance takes effect. Standard homeowner's insurance does NOT cover flood damage. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and private insurers offer policies starting around $500 per year.
Physical preparation for your home includes: ensuring gutters and downspouts are clear and directing water away from your foundation, checking that your sump pump works and has a battery backup, sealing cracks in your foundation, installing backflow valves on sewer lines to prevent sewage backup, elevating HVAC equipment, water heaters, and electrical panels above potential flood levels, and keeping sandbags or flood barriers on hand.
Create a family emergency plan that includes evacuation routes, meeting points, emergency contact numbers, and a go-bag with essential documents, medications, and supplies for 72 hours. Store important documents in waterproof containers and consider keeping digital copies in cloud storage.
If flooding begins, move to higher ground immediately. Never drive through flooded streets — turn around, don't drown. Just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and two feet of water can float most vehicles. Monitor local emergency alerts through apps, radio, and social media.
After floodwater recedes, do not enter your home until it's been declared safe. Floodwater is typically contaminated with sewage, chemicals, and debris. Call Houston Water Damage at 713-231-5484 for professional flood damage cleanup and restoration. We have the equipment and training to safely restore your home after a flood event.
Need help now?
Houston Water Damage provides 24/7 emergency restoration. Call 713-231-5484 for immediate dispatch anywhere in the Greater Houston area.