Photos © reproduced with permission from the Harris County Flood Control

Houston was founded by the Allen brothers on August 30, 1836 where Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou met. Every structure in the new settlement was soon flooded Caroline Street, Houston, TX © CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods

Houston is located on a flat coastal plain with many bayous, streams, and creeks all draining into Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Bayous include Buffalo, White Oak, Greens, Sims, Hall, and Brays. Creeks include Cypress, Spring, and Clear. CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods

Early Houston Floods: 1837, 1839, 1841, 1843, 1875, 1879, 1887, 1899, 1900, 1907, 1915, 1919, 1929, & Flood - Buffalo Bayou near downtown ©© CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Photos © reproduced with permission from the Harris County Flood Control

September Barge traffic pre-flood December 1935 Flood © © CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Photos © reproduced with permission from the Harris County Flood Control

“Almost without warning, the muddy waters swirled down upon unsuspecting families separating mothers from their children, and leaving in the mucky wake seven drowned, including five children and two adults.” -- Wild River - describing the 1935 flood © © © © CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Photos © reproduced with permission from the Harris County Flood Control

CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Rainfall Amounts of notable storms

CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Rainfall Amounts of notable storms

CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Rainfall Amounts of notable storms

As a result of the 1929 and 1935 floods, Harris County Flood Control District was founded in 1937 to prevent continued public calamity caused by great floods and to construct improvements to control flood waters. Addicks Reservoir completed in 1948 © CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Photos © reproduced with permission from the Harris County Flood Control

History has demonstrated the need for an inland port especially after the devastating 1900 Galveston Hurricane. The decision by the Allen brothers to locate Houston at the confluence of White Oak and Buffalo Bayous showed incredible foresight, as Houston has become one of the major ports in the world. While the location of Houston resulted in explosive growth, the rapid expansion through the years has continued to put more of the community at risk from flooding. CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods

1841 Port of Houston Established 1896 Landing at Main Street was located six miles downstream and became the Turning Basin 1900 Hurricane devastated Galveston, showing importance of Houston becoming an inland port 1914 Deepening of channel from Port of Houston to the Turning Basin completed 1948 Port of Houston was second only to New York in total tonnage CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Photos © reproduced with permission from the Harris County Flood Control

Houston’s climate is dominated by warm tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico, which makes it a breeding ground for thunderstorms. When the warm moist air combines with the cold dry air from the Rockies, very strong thunderstorms can develop rapidly causing heavy downpours resulting in flooding along area bayous and creeks. Weather features that cause flooding along the Upper Texas Coast: Tropical cyclones Tropical cyclones Training thunderstorms associated with squall lines and cold fronts Training thunderstorms associated with squall lines and cold fronts Warm fronts and stationary fronts Warm fronts and stationary fronts Upper level disturbances Upper level disturbances © CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Photos © reproduced with permission from the Harris County Flood Control

Persistent east to southeast winds in the Gulf of Mexico will push water into Galveston Bay, inhibiting the normal rainfall drainage from Harris County. This could cause bayous in Harris County to overflow their banks during heavy rainfall events. © CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Photos © reproduced with permission from the Harris County Flood Control

CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Tropical Cyclones that have caused flooding in the Houston Area Persistent east to southeast winds in the Gulf of Mexico will push water into Galveston Bay, inhibiting the normal rainfall drainage from Harris County. This could cause bayous in Harris County to overflow their banks during heavy rainfall events.

Tropical Storm Allison formed rapidly just off the Upper Texas Coast and moved inland on June 5, The remnants of Allison stalled over east Texas and moved back over the Houston area on June 7 dumping over inches of rain in a short period of time over the Harris County watersheds. © CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Photos © reproduced with permission from the Harris County Flood Control

CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods June 6, 2001 June 7, 2001 Allison Rainfall Amounts

CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods June 8, 2001 – The largest Allison rainfall amounts.

CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods June 9, 2001 June 10, 2001 Allison Rainfall Amounts

Locate your zip code to determine your watershed Watersheds Spring Creek Spring Creek Cypress Creek Cypress Creek Addicks Reservoir Addicks Reservoir Buffalo Bayou Buffalo Bayou Greens Bayou Greens Bayou San Jacinto River San Jacinto River Luce Bayou Luce Bayou Jackson Bayou Jackson Bayou Barker Reservoir Barker Reservoir Brays Bayou Brays Bayou White Oak Bayou White Oak Bayou Willow Creek Willow Creek Carpenters Bayou Carpenters Bayou Hunting Bayou Hunting Bayou Sims Bayou Sims Bayou Clear Creek Clear Creek Armand Bayou Armand Bayou

CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods Bayous

CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods

The best way to protect your life and property is to become floodwise. Flooding on the coastal prairie is a fact of life. Learning to live with the threat is a necessity. CITY ON THE BAYOU: Houston’s History Through Floods

Photos © reproduced with permission from the Harris County Flood Control