![]() ![]() It does not mean that the flood will occur every 100 years rather it is the flood elevation that has a 1- percent chance of being equaled or exceeded each year. The term "100-year flood" can be misleading. These areas are classified as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA), and are located in a 100-year flood zone. Each bayou and creek include areas known as "floodplains," where water collects, pools, and flows during the course of a natural storm event.Ī floodplain is defined as any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source. In the last century, over 30 thunderstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes have caused flooding in Harris County. The land use consists of urban, residential, commercial, and heavy industrial areas. It covers 1,788 square miles with 1,500 channels totaling about 2,500 miles in length within twenty-two watersheds. Harris County is the third largest county in the United States with a population greater than three million. Nearly 75 percent of all federally declared disasters over the past five years involved flooding.In the last 52 years, nearly 1,000 flood events have been designated as federally declared disasters.Federal disaster assistance is usually a loan that must be paid back with interest and is only available when a disaster has been federally declared.The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has paid nearly $16 billion in flood insurance claims to policyholders during the 2005 hurricane season (as of August 31, 2006.).Flood losses in the United States averaged $2.4 billion per year for the last decade.For building in high flood risk areas, there is a 26 percent chance of experiencing a flood during the life of a 30-year mortgage, compared to a nine percent chance of experiencing a fire.More than 5 million Americans are protected with flood insurance but millions more are unaware of their personal risk for property damage or options for protection.New construction can increase flood risk, especially if it changes natural runoff paths.Between 20 and 25 percent of all flood insurance claims are filed in low-to moderate-risk areas.More than 50 percent of properties in high-risk areas remain unprotected by flood insurance all properties in high-risk areas need to be protected with flood insurance. ![]()
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