Flood Protection Information

Information Flood Protection

KNOW YOUR FLOOD HAZARD

Galveston is completely surrounded by water with Galveston Bay to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. The city’s proximity to the water makes it vulnerable to flooding from a variety of sources. The following is a list of the different types of storms that can affect Galveston:

  • Flash flood – a local flood of short duration resulting from heavy rainfall in the immediate vicinity
  • Storm surge – the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tides
  • Tropical cyclone – an organized weather system with a closed circulation that forms over warm tropical waters
  • Tropical storm – a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph
  • Hurricane – an intense tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 74 mph or higher

All of these types of storms have the potential to cause major damage to Galveston. Recent storm events caused significant damage to the city such as Hurricane Ike in 2008 when several homes were flooded from water invading their downstairs enclosures. A 17 22-foot storm surge inundated Galveston where several homes were flooded from water invading their downstairs enclosures. Hurricane Harvey, in 2017, caused flooding in the Strand when water backed up in the streets.

Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are issued by FEMA to identify different levels of flood risks. FIRMs are primarily used for flood insurance purposes, but they also provide a basis for Galveston to regulate development within those areas. The location of a property relative to certain flood zones indicates what restrictions may be placed on new and substantially improved construction. It’s also important to know where you live in relation to the floodplain so you know your level of risk. Contact the Galveston Development Services Department at 409-797-3814 or visit 3015 Market St. to see the current FEMA FIRM dated August 15, 2019 to find out which flood zone you live in and what kind of risk you are facing. The City also uses a GIS-based map that includes the effective FIRM and other flood-related information. You can view the City’s GIS flood maps here Version OptionsFlood Protection InformationHeadline. If you own an older home that was built before the maps went into effect in 2019, you can view those FIRMs on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. These maps would be helpful to know the base flood elevation at the time you built your structure relative to the flood risk we face now.

The Tides and Currents Map that is linked to the City’s GIS provides information on real-time water levels. There are three tidal gauges strategically located in Galveston that give current data such as low and high tide depths and times, as well as wave elevations and other information.

The National Storm Surge Inundation Maps are also included on the City’s website within the GIS Hub. These maps help people see how storm surge levels in each hurricane category could affect Galveston. NOAA’s Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper is also a useful tool in assessing risk to coastal storm surges and storms. 

INSURE YOUR PROPERTY

Galveston’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) allows for the purchase of flood insurance at a subsidized rate to anyone in the city, regardless of location or loss history. Regardless of what flood zone you’re in, you are advised to obtain flood insurance. Basic homeowner’s insurance does not cover flood damages. Some people have purchased flood insurance because it was required by the bank or loan company when they obtained a mortgage or home improvement loan. Usually, these policies just cover the building’s structure and not the contents. Call your insurance agent to see if your policy covers both structure and contents. Flood insurance policies are also available for businesses.

Eligible policyholders located in Galveston will benefit from the City’s participation in the Community Rating System (CRS) which is a voluntary, federal program that rewards communities for enforcing higher standards beyond the NFIP minimum in exchange for discounts on flood insurance premiums. There is a 30-day waiting period before a new policy becomes effective, so don’t delay. The time to buy a flood insurance policy is now, not when there’s a storm out in the Gulf. To find out more about flood insurance, how flood insurance rates are calculated, and other information, visit FloodSmart, the official website of the NFIP.

PROTECT YOURSELF

It is important to know the difference between a flood WATCH and a flood WARNING. A flash flood watch is flooding that is possible in your area. A flash flood warning is flooding that is already occurring or will occur soon in your area. The best time to make sure you are ready for the next storm event is before one is headed your way.

Most people are not aware that it only takes six inches of water for a car to become buoyant or for water to knock you off your feet and that drowning is the number one cause of flood related deaths. Protect yourself from the dangers of flood water by obeying barriers and barricades, and following these tips:  

  • Do not drive in areas that you know tend to flood.
  • If City officials tell you to evacuate, follow their orders and leave immediately. Know the evacuation procedures for a flood, and prepare a family evacuation plan.
  • Shut off the electricity and all gas appliances before you evacuate.
  • Designate a place where your family can meet after an evacuation order is issued.
  • Stay connected to the City of Galveston before, during, and after a flood by signing up for ISLAND ALERT, the City’s Emergency Notification System, via the City’s Office of Emergency Management website here .

Visit the City of Galveston Office of Emergency Management for more information and tips on annual preparations, when a storm is in the Gulf, how to protect your property, and other storm-related topics. You can also find helpful information such as evacuation routes and safety tips in the Hurricane Preparedness Guide. If a storm event does impact your property and your structure has sustained any kind of damage, please report it to the City via the Storm Damage Reporting Form.

PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY

Rather than wait for a flood to occur, you can act now to protect your property from flood damage. Even if you’ve never flooded before, in the life of a 30-year mortgage, there is a 26% chance of experiencing a flood if a property is located in the floodplain. Various retrofitting techniques are available to help minimize flooding such as elevating the building, constructing barriers out of fill or concrete, and floodproofing to make the building watertight. Because of Galveston’s susceptibility to hurricanes and tropical storms, measures that protect against high winds such as storm shutters or reinforced garage doors should also be considered. Download the Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your Home from Flooding (PDF) from the FEMA online library for information on permanent retrofitting measures for your home. You can also pick up a hard copy of the “Texas Homeowner’s Handbook to Prepare for Coastal Natural Hazards” available for the public in the Building Division located at 3015  Market St. in Galveston or download a copy of the handbook here Version OptionsFlood Protection InformationHeadline. The handbook discusses several methods of dry floodproofing a structure for flood prevention including installing watertight shields over doors, windows, and other openings, as well as applying a waterproof coating or membrane to the exterior walls of the building.

Galveston’s Floodplain Administrator and other staff in the Development Services Division can provide advice to homeowners on which retrofitting or flood protection technique is right for you and your structure. Visit 3015 Market St. or contact the City’s Floodplain Administrator by calling 409-797-3814 to learn other ways to safeguard your structure and click here  Version OptionsFlood Protection InformationHeadlinefor financial assistance options, such as federal mitigation grants, for protecting your structure.

BUILD RESPONSIBLY

All development in the Galveston floodplain requires a permit per Chapter 10 of the City’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. Development includes, but is not limited to, all new construction, grading, and paving. Substantially damaged or improved structures, where the cost of repair (regardless of the cause of damage) or improvements to a structure equals or exceeds 50% of the building’s market value, also require building permits and elevation certificates, and are held to the same standards as new construction. All new construction and substantial improvements must be built at least to the City’s minimum design elevation of 18 inches above the base flood elevation. Materials below the base flood elevation plus 18 inches must be water-resistant, and enclosures can only be used for parking, storage, or access. Before you do any kind of work to your structure in the floodplain, call the Floodplain Administrator at 409-797-3814 or visit the Building Division at 3015 Market St. to see if a permit is needed. Any development in the floodplain without a permit is illegal, such as constructing berms and other barriers that divert water onto other properties, and such activity should be reported to the Building Division. For more information, visit the City’s Development Services Division. 

PROTECT NATURAL FLOODPLAIN FUNCTIONS

Floodplains provide a wide range of benefits to human and natural systems. They serve as flood storage and conveyance, and reduce flood velocities and flood peaks. Water quality is improved through the soil and vegetation’s ability to filter out nutrients and impurities from runoff and to process organic waste. Floodplains and wetlands provide breeding and feeding grounds for fish and wildlife, create and enhance waterfowl habitat, and protect habitats for rare and endangered species. They provide open space, aesthetic pleasure, and areas for active uses such as parks, playgrounds, and ball fields.

The City of Galveston has regulations in place to protect some areas of natural floodplain functions such as the dunes and wetlands. The City of Galveston Dune Protection and Beach Access Plan, amended in 2024, identifies considerations and regulations for the city’s dune and beach areas. The sand dunes and wetlands are particularly at risk since they provide habitats for the island’s various wildlife such as nesting turtles. Wetlands and other critical areas can be viewed on the City’s GIS department here. Click on the layer list at the top right corner to turn on the wetlands layer and see the different types as defined by the National Inventory of Wetlands.    Visit the Galveston Bay Estuary Program to find out how to do your part to protect Galveston Bay, and click here Version OptionsFlood Protection InformationHeadline to learn more about the City’s building requirements in coastal areas.

The City’s Public Works Department works hard to keep its open channels and canals cleaned and maintained so they can function properly in a storm event. It is illegal in Galveston to dump any type of debris into a canal or drainage ditch. Debris can become entangled in culverts and streambeds, and impede drainage causing the flow of water to back up. Drainage easements maintained by the city are routinely inspected. Homeowners with overgrown ditches are encouraged to do their part to keep ditches free of debris, and to discourage grass clippings, oil, and other contaminants from invading storm sewer inlets. Debris dumping and pollutant discharging should be reported to the City via the online form or by calling 409-797-3647.