Flooding

Flood Safety Tips

If a flood is likely in your area, you should:

  • Listen to the radio or television for information.
  • Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
  • Be aware of stream, drainage channels, canyons and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without typical warnings such as rain clouds or heavy rain.

If you must prepare to evacuate, you should do the following:

  • Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items to an upper floor.
  • Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
  • If you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation tips:
  • Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
  • Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be swept away quickly.
  • Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams, rivers or creeks, particularly during threatening conditions.

Turn Around, Don't Drown.

When there’s water running across a road, drivers should always turn around and choose a different route.
 These are the facts:

  • Six inches of water can cause tires to lose traction and begin to slide.
  • Twelve inches of water can float many cars. Two feet of rushing water will carry off pick-up trucks, SUVs and most other vehicles.
  • Water across a road may hide a missing segment of roadbed or a missing bridge.
  • In flash floods, waters rise so rapidly they may be far deeper by the time you are halfway across, trapping you in your vehicle.
  • Flash floods are especially treacherous at night when it is very difficult to see how deep waters may be or how fast water is rising.
  • Floodwater weakens roadbeds. Drivers should proceed cautiously after waters have receded, since the road may collapse under the weight of the vehicle.

Flood Safety Tips

Learn more about staying safe before, during, and after a flood. Click on each infographic below.

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Before, During, and After - Keep Informed!

During and after an emergency it is crucial to ensure you are receiving information from legitimate sources. Beware of inaccurate information online during emergencies. The following list of services can help keep you informed before, during and after an emergency.

  • Emergency Notification System
    The emergency alert system is a communication service available to all Sugar Land residents to receive emergency alerts and city notifications. Notifications are available via email, text, and/or phone.
  • Flood Warning System
    Sign up to receive alerts that report near real-time rainfall and water levels. This service is provided through a partnership with the Harris County Flood Warning System.
  • Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)
    The City’s Intelligent Transportation System Website allows residents to view and sign up to receive information about traffic event locations (like traffic hazards, street flooding, etc) throughout the Sugar Land area.
  • CenterPoint Energy
    CenterPoint Energy is responsible for restoring electricity and natural gas. Sign up for their power
    outage alerts

Additional Resources

  • Floodplain Administration
    Access to the new Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) and floodplain permitting requirements.
  • Flood Warning System
    Flood Warning System that measures rainfall amounts and monitors water levels in regional bayous and major streams.
  • Flood Risk Alerts
    Sign up to receive alerts that report near real-time rainfall and water levels. This service is provided through a partnership with the Harris County Flood Warning System.
  • FEMA.gov
    Planning, preparation, and mitigation resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
  • National Flood Insurance Program
    The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) offers flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners.

Floodplain Mapping

The FEMA Floodplain Mapping was last updated in 2014. The City of Sugar Land Floodplain Manager is not aware of any changes in the Floodplain Map in the area of Greatwood since then. This area is protected by levees and it is classified as low flood Hazard Zone (Zone X).

In the absence of the Floodplain Map revisions, the only reason for a property to be re-classified is if the resident has submitted two or more flood insurance claims on his/her policy. If that is not the case, there is no reason to re-classify the property.  Even after claims have been made, if property owners have undertaken projects to mitigate the potential flooding risk and the measures are properly documented, the property owner can still appeal the reclassification to the insurance company.

If you have any questions, please contact Robert Wilson  at 281-275-2141 or rwilson@sugarlandtx.gov.

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