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Education
Learn more about other flood related issues in SWMP's education section, including information about:
  • Flood Hazard Awareness
    Learn what to do during a hurricane and view the community outreach letter sent to Houston citizens in their utility bills (English/Spanish)
  • The Project Life Cycle
    Watch a brief animation about the main steps of evaluation and construction.
  • Reporting Flooding
    Help minimize flooding by letting us know where flood problems are.
Who is responsible for storm water?   How are flood projects initiated and constructed?
Click here to view a short presentation showing the path of a raindrop created by Harris County Flood Control District.   To learn how the City addresses flooding problems, view a typical project life cycle by clicking here.

Why does it flood?   What can I do to prevent flooding?

Flooding is largely affected by the floodplain and watershed in which you live. Due to its relatively flat terrain and coastal environment, Houston is susceptible to large amounts of rainfall that are often too great for its infrastructure to handle.

Once the City's ditch and storm sewer networks are inundated with storm water runoff, streets become the secondary drainage facilities.

You can learn about the different types of flooding by clicking here.

  While it is impossible to stop flooding, it is possible to minimize its effects. Citizens can inform the City of flooding problems by filling out a Flood Report Form or calling 3-1-1, the City of Houston's Service Helpline.