Asymmetrical Response to Flood Hazards in South Central Texas

ABSTRACTSouth central Texas is one of the most flood-prone regions in the United States on account of its extreme rainfall intensities, hydrologically efficient drainage systems, and high runoff surfaces, both natural and from recent population growth. In the last twenty years the region has experienced devastating floods in 1998, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2013, and 2015, with literally hundreds of homes and numerous lives lost. We analyze the causes of these losses and actions that have been taken to reduce the losses, as well as reasons for the failure to realistically accommodate the regional flood hazards. A major contributor to this problem is the underassessment of rainfall intensities that are still based on Weather Bureau Technical Paper 40. Another factor has been the reluctance of governmental officials to realistically define floodplains because of political pressure based on fears of lowering home and land values and development “opportunities.” Well-heeled developers have had housing projects approve...