Flood Zone Overview
The Memorial area spans west Houston along Buffalo Bayou, encompassing both City of Houston and Harris County unincorporated communities. Flood zones range widely — properties along Buffalo Bayou's banks are Zone AE, while elevated areas away from the bayou carry Zone X designations.
Hurricane Harvey Impact (2017)
The Addicks and Barker reservoirs, located west of Memorial, were intentionally released during Harvey causing controlled flooding downstream. Properties in the Barker and Addicks reservoir pools experienced flooding related to those releases, not solely from rainfall.
Flood Insurance Considerations
Flood risk in the Memorial area is highly parcel-specific. Properties in the Addicks or Barker reservoir pools face a distinct risk factor from controlled reservoir releases, which is separate from standard floodplain classification. A licensed insurance professional can advise on the appropriate coverage for a specific property.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Memorial area contains multiple flood zones. Properties along Buffalo Bayou are typically Zone AE. The Addicks and Barker reservoir pools west of Beltway 8 have their own flood risk from controlled reservoir releases.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released water from Addicks and Barker reservoirs during Harvey to prevent uncontrolled spillway overtopping. This caused deliberate flooding in areas upstream of the reservoirs that were not traditionally in a mapped floodplain.
Enter your specific address on Floodfolio to see its FEMA designation. For reservoir pool questions, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publishes inundation maps for Addicks and Barker pools.
Check Your Specific Memorial Address
Neighborhood-level data is a starting point. Every property has a unique elevation, zone boundary, and claim history.
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