25/10/2026
Not in a flood zone? Your house can still flood.
A lot of Texas sits on rocky soil over limestone or thick clay, and neither one soaks up much water. When a heavy storm hits, the rain runs right off the ground instead of sinking in, and it heads for the lowest spot it can find. Sometimes that’s your garage, your back door, or the gap along your foundation.
Flood maps are built around rivers and creeks, not the runoff rushing down your street. That’s why homes miles from any creek still end up with water inside after a flash flood.
If it happens to you, outdoor floodwater isn’t something to mop up and forget. It can carry sewage and bacteria, so soaked drywall, insulation, and carpet pad usually need to come out before mold has a chance to start.