Smart communities are resilient communities. With MAAPnext, the Harris County Flood Control District and FEMA are transforming how we understand and manage Harris County’s floodplains. Using the most current data and techniques, MAAPnext provides tools to help residents, communities, and officials better understand flood risk and protect life and property.
Know Your Risk
Map Status: DraftMAAPnext flood maps are currently in draft form and are being shared for informational and educational purposes only. Draft maps are provided for awareness only and are not open for formal comments or appeals. These draft maps are not final, cannot be used for insurance or regulatory decisions, and are not open for public comment at this time.FEMA is anticipated to release Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) after completion of its federal review and publishing process. Following the release, FEMA will initiate a formal public review and appeal period.Learn More About Map Stages
IT CAN FLOOD ANYWHERE IN HARRIS COUNTY
AND IT CAN HAPPEN FAST
You do not have to live near a bayou, lake, or river to flood. In Harris County, flooding can occur from multiple sources, including riverine flooding and coastal flooding.
In Harris County, flooding is our number one natural threat. On average, we experience a major flood somewhere in Harris County every two years - and each time our communities come together to rebuild. But being resilient is about more than rebuilding - it’s about planning ahead and creating the tools we need to make smarter, more informed decisions before, during, and after disaster strikes.
Harris County is prone to extreme rainfall events. We receive more annual rainfall than most other parts of Texas.
Harris County has more people than any other county in Texas. This means more buildings and roadways and fewer safe places for stormwater to go.
Our region is low-lying with flat landscape, and predominately clay soils that do not absorb stormwater very well.
Harris County’s flood control infrastructure is extensive, including more than 1,500 channels, including creeks and bayous, totaling about 2,500 miles in length.
The Harris County Flood Control District coordinates with other entities whose systems outfall into our channel. Each jurisdiction follows its own floodplain criteria, and some projects may be subject to additional District review.
The Flood Control District is continuously improving its flood data and modeling methods in order to better understand and communicate flood risk.
While eliminating flood risk is not possible, reducing it is, and that remains a top priority in Harris County. Thousands of homes and businesses are located within the current FEMA-designated 100-year floodplain, and major infrastructure investments, estimated in the billions of dollars, are underway to help reduce that risk and improve long-term resilience.
Flooding tops the list of naturalthreats to our homes, businesses, and valuedproperty in Harris County.
Every structure in Harris County should have flood insurance.
Most of the flooding is in areas developed prior to the current understanding of flood potential and prior to regulations restricting construction in flood-prone areas. Fortunately, since the late 1960s, there has been flood insurance to ease the financial impact of flooding. Despite tremendous flood damage reduction projects that have indeed reduced the risk of flooding, more flood insurance funds have been paid in Harris County here than in any other National Flood Insurance Program-participating community.
Call your insurance agent today and protect what you've built.
Even if you live in an area with low or moderate flood risk, you are 5 times more likely to experience flood than a fire in your home over the next 30 years. For many, a National Flood Insurance Program's flood insurance policy could cost less than $400 per year.
Yes. Flooding can happen anywhere, and even areas outside of high-risk zones experience flood damage every year. More than 25% of all flood insurance claims come from properties located in moderate- or low-risk areas. Standard homeowners’ insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood insurance provides important protection regardless of where you live.
You can purchase flood insurance through your local insurance agent or visit FloodSmart.gov for more information.
Flood risk data and maps are updated as new information becomes available, including rainfall studies, land use data, and improvements to drainage infrastructure. All updates occur in coordination with FEMA. MAAPnext represents the most comprehensive update since 2007 and includes data from NOAA’s 2018 Atlas 14 rainfall study, 2018 LiDAR elevation data, and the latest flood modeling technology. Once new FEMA maps are finalized, they become the official Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) used for insurance and permitting purposes.
Flooding in Harris County can occur from several sources:
Understanding these types of flooding helps residents recognize that flood risk isn’t limited to those living near major waterways - it can happen anywhere it rains.
The MAAPnext Navigator allows you to view and explore draft flood risk information for addresses in Harris County.
To get started, enter an address in the search bar on the homepage or the “Understand Your Flood Risk” page. The tool displays draft flood risk information to help you better understand flood risk in your area.
The information shown in the Navigator is for informational and educational purposes only. Draft maps and data are not final, cannot be used for insurance or regulatory decisions, and are not open for public comment at this time.
Additional features and resources—including downloadable materials—will be made available as FEMA advances through its official map review and release process.
Launch the Navigator