Flood Zone Overview
Katy is a west Houston community spanning Harris and Fort Bend counties. Many parts of Katy are in Zone X, but areas near the Addicks Reservoir pool and Buffalo Bayou carry Zone AE designations. The Addicks Reservoir pool is a distinct risk category separate from standard floodplain mapping.
Hurricane Harvey Impact (2017)
Katy experienced significant flooding during Harvey related to the Addicks Reservoir. When the reservoir exceeded capacity, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers made controlled releases that flooded areas downstream, including parts of Katy. Some areas within the reservoir's upstream pool also flooded from the impounded water.
Flood Insurance Considerations
Katy's flood risk is highly parcel-specific. Properties within or downstream of the Addicks Reservoir pool face risk from controlled reservoir releases that may not be fully reflected in standard FEMA floodplain maps. A licensed insurance professional can advise on the appropriate coverage for a specific property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Katy contains mixed flood zones. Some areas near the Addicks Reservoir and Buffalo Bayou are Zone AE. Much of Katy is Zone X, but the reservoir pool risk is an important factor to check at the address level.
Two factors affected Katy during Harvey: direct rainfall flooding and controlled water releases from the Addicks Reservoir by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The releases flooded some areas downstream that were not in the mapped floodplain.
The Addicks Reservoir impounds water from West Houston. Areas within the reservoir pool boundary can flood when the reservoir fills, even if those areas are not in a mapped floodplain. FEMA and the Army Corps publish inundation maps for the pool boundaries.
Enter your Katy address on Floodfolio for FEMA zone, elevation data, and NFIP claim history. For Addicks Reservoir pool information, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publishes pool boundary maps.
Check Your Specific Katy Address
Neighborhood-level data is a starting point. Every property has a unique elevation, zone boundary, and claim history.
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