Houston: The City That Can't Catch a Dry Break (Unless It's From Air Conditioning)
Ah, Houston. The city of rodeos, refineries, and...relentless rain. If you're thinking about moving there, here's a friendly public service announcement: Houston and flooding go together about as well as humidity and a bad hair day.
But hey, at least it's not boring, right?
So, you're curious about the aquatic adventures of Houston, specifically, "What year did Houston flood?" Well, buckle up, buttercup, because this city's flood history is as long and winding as a bayou after a tropical storm.
The "Hold My Beer" Hall of Fame of Houston Floods:
- 1836 to 1936: Basically, Houston was a toddler just learning to walk, and walking straight into a puddle every other day. We're talking 16 major floods in a century, some so bad they turned downtown into a raging river.
- June 2001: Tropical Storm Allison decided to play Marco Polo with Houston, leaving over 35 inches of rain in its wake. Fun fact: This flood marked the official "Hey, maybe we should do something about this" moment for the city.
- April 2016: The Tax Day Flood came rolling in like a bad hangover, dumping over a foot of rain and reminding everyone that sometimes, even filing an extension isn't enough to escape disaster.
- August 2017: Hurricane Harvey is the undisputed heavyweight champion of Houston floods. We're talking over 50 inches of rain in four days, turning the city into a giant bathtub. This flood is why Houston should seriously consider friendship with an umbrella company.
- May 2024 (That's right, folks, you're living in it!) Seems like even Mother Nature follows the "never skip leg day" routine. Just a couple of weeks ago, Houston got another taste of the good ol' H2O rodeo.
But hey, there's always a bright side! At least you'll never be caught dead thirsty in Houston.
Looking for more specific flood info? The internet is your friend (although it might not be after a good Houston downpour). A quick search will give you the nitty-gritty details of each flood.
In the meantime, here are some helpful tips for surviving a Houston flood:
- Invest in a good kayak. You never know when the commute will involve scenic waterways.
- Learn to fish. All that floodwater gotta have some catfish in there, right?
- Stock up on pool inflatables. Flood? More like a giant pool party! (Just avoid the power lines...)
Houston: it's a city that floods, but it also floats (on a sea of resilience, that is). So come on down, y'all! Just remember your swimsuit and maybe a life vest.
