5 ms·

In theory, but a) many properties are owned outright, for one reason or another, b) the flood maps assume flood control measures all work properly (e.g Harvey n

In theory, but a) many properties are owned outright, for one reason or another, b) the flood maps assume flood control measures all work properly (e.g Harvey necessitated intentional release of water in order to prevent dams/levees from failing), c) over a 30 year mortgage you have a 26% chance of experiencing a "100-year flood", d) 100 year flood definition is inherently imprecise in the first place, not to mention climate change issues... I could go on, not sure how much of this is really Houston's fault, the only flood insurance program is federal and they exert so much influence because they do establish the requirements for ~everyone who has a mortgage. Feds should probably take the lead on this. Also Houston is just really flat to begin with, basically at sea level.

jcranmer 5y ago
Houston does have unique local situtations, such as "we're going to allow you to build homes inside of our flood management reservoirs [1] and not require you to disclose to buyers that they're in a flood management reservoirs." [1] i.e., the land that is intentionally flooded to prevent worse floods from happening downstream.
- ArkanExplorer 5y ago
  Wouldn't the logical conclusion be to build the homes, but to build the foundation higher than the forecast flood line? Or even to build the house raised above the foundation?
- evancox100 5y ago
  I know that happens but I'm not sure this is really unique to Houston, it seems to be a problem throughout the US in low-lying and/or coastal areas. https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-flood-zone-floodplain-development-homes-zoning.html https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-flood-zone-floodplain-...
- ClumsyPilot 5y ago
  "not require you to disclose to buyers that they're in a flood management reservoirs." I live in Uk, and this sounds downright fraudulent. Its basically knowingly selling defective product.
hinkley 5y ago
Houston is apparently sinking as fast as New Orleans. 2 inches a year in some places (up to 12 feet since 1920). https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1182/pdf/07Houston.pdf https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1182/pdf/07Houston.pdf Venice isn't just dealing with sea level rise, it's also sinking into the sea due to ground water pumping. As sea level rises we are probably going to have to find ways to get water back into the aquifers faster. Both to stop subsidence and to keep it out of the oceans. More the former than the latter, but here are some numbers: The surface area of the oceans is about 361.9 million square kilometers. Since a millimeter is a millionth of a kilometer, every millimeter of sea level rise is over 361.9 km^3 of water. The USGS pegged our aquifers as down 800-1000 km^3 in 2008 an the rate per year is over 25 km^3, and different sources seem to say we're now globally somewhere around 300-400 km^3 net loss in ground water. Per year. And in the worst places the ground is sinking 2 feet per year due to pumping.
- ClumsyPilot 5y ago
  "the worst places the ground is sinking 2 feet per year due to pumping." Is that number accurate? Thats would be bonkers, any kinf of infrastructurr or houses would crumble it it's foundations move at that rate.
  - hinkley 5y ago
    I don’t know, but that’s what the usgs doc said, and another list said Houston and New Orleans are tied for first place (in NA presumably). I saw a video the other day about subsidence in some valley in California that’s almost as nuts. Bridges that are now underwater during every rain because they’ve sunk, things of that sort.

jcranmer 5y ago

Houston does have unique local situtations, such as "we're going to allow you to build homes inside of our flood management reservoirs [1] and not require you to disclose to buyers that they're in a flood management reservoirs." [1] i.e., the land that is intentionally flooded to prevent worse floods from happening downstream.

ArkanExplorer 5y ago
Wouldn't the logical conclusion be to build the homes, but to build the foundation higher than the forecast flood line? Or even to build the house raised above the foundation?
evancox100 5y ago
I know that happens but I'm not sure this is really unique to Houston, it seems to be a problem throughout the US in low-lying and/or coastal areas. https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-flood-zone-floodplain-development-homes-zoning.html https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-flood-zone-floodplain-...
ClumsyPilot 5y ago
"not require you to disclose to buyers that they're in a flood management reservoirs." I live in Uk, and this sounds downright fraudulent. Its basically knowingly selling defective product.

hinkley 5y ago

Houston is apparently sinking as fast as New Orleans. 2 inches a year in some places (up to 12 feet since 1920). https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1182/pdf/07Houston.pdf https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1182/pdf/07Houston.pdf Venice isn't just dealing with sea level rise, it's also sinking into the sea due to ground water pumping. As sea level rises we are probably going to have to find ways to get water back into the aquifers faster. Both to stop subsidence and to keep it out of the oceans. More the former than the latter, but here are some numbers: The surface area of the oceans is about 361.9 million square kilometers. Since a millimeter is a millionth of a kilometer, every millimeter of sea level rise is over 361.9 km^3 of water. The USGS pegged our aquifers as down 800-1000 km^3 in 2008 an the rate per year is over 25 km^3, and different sources seem to say we're now globally somewhere around 300-400 km^3 net loss in ground water. Per year. And in the worst places the ground is sinking 2 feet per year due to pumping.

ClumsyPilot 5y ago
"the worst places the ground is sinking 2 feet per year due to pumping." Is that number accurate? Thats would be bonkers, any kinf of infrastructurr or houses would crumble it it's foundations move at that rate.
- hinkley 5y ago
  I don’t know, but that’s what the usgs doc said, and another list said Houston and New Orleans are tied for first place (in NA presumably). I saw a video the other day about subsidence in some valley in California that’s almost as nuts. Bridges that are now underwater during every rain because they’ve sunk, things of that sort.