bevorules77

Thanks for the advice. The home is on 24th Street, between Couch and Bevis. According to the tsarp map (which I had checked before) and my realtor, it's in the 'AE' zone.

Howdy, I'm a civil engineer and I specialize in floodplain mapping and management.

To check exactly where your future home is located in relation to the White Oak Bayou floodplain, go to www.tsarp.org and use their interactive mapping tool. If you still need help, send me your address or just an intersection and I will check it myself.

You do need to have the homebuilder or a surveyor that you hire provide you with an elevation certificate. This document will come in handy not only for insurance purposes, but when you sell your house.

A small drain will not be effective during a major storm event. Most storm sewers in the City of Houston are designed for a rainstorm that has a 33% chance of occurring in any year.

Being on 24th Street, I wouldn't worry TOO much. Just keep in mind that if a really big storm does come (and it will one day!) your house may be an island for a few hours or possibly days...

Please let me know if you have any other questions. In my very biased opinion, my firm is the premier group of drainage and floodplain consultants in Harris County and I don't mind helping out HAIFers.

Hello,

I'm thinking about buying a townhome in Shady Acres, on 24th Street. I'm impressed with the neighborhood, and with all the new construction there should be a lot of potential in the next few years.

However, the townhome is in the 100-year floodplain. It is brand new, so it is built to the new codes. The main living level is raised above the driveway; only the garage is on the ground. In addition, there is a drain in the driveway to keep flood waters out. I have verified that the flood insurance for this property is discounted significantly to $437/yr since the property is properly elevated.

Here's are my questions:

• Do the streets flood in that area? How did they hold up during the recent Tropical Storm Erin?
  
• Will being on a floodplain adversely affect the property's value in the future, even though it should be mostly OK in the event of a flood?
  

Thanks a lot!