Quick answer
Harris County homes flooded two ways during Hurricane Ike: 2,550 from surge and 1,300 more from rain. We pull out standing water, dry the structure to measured targets and record where the water came from, because rising water and roof leaks are usually claimed under different policies.
What Ike's surge and rain counts mean for Harris County homes
Hurricane Ike came ashore at Galveston on September 13, 2008, and pushed a 12 to 15 foot storm surge across Harris County. The Harris County Flood Control District counted 2,550 county homes flooded by that surge and another 1,300 flooded by rain. Rain flooding does not need a shoreline, which is why homes far from the bay belong in a storm plan too.
The Harris County side of our coverage mixes apartments and houses. In Webster, renters make up about 78 percent, and buildings of 50 or more units hold about 22 percent of homes, which often brings a property manager into a water job. In Seabrook the median home dates from 1992, with about 16 percent from the 1970s, a spread of ages that calls for reading each house instead of guessing.
Six Harris County jobs, in storm season and out of it
Getting a Harris County home ready before storm season
Find and test the main shutoff
Locate the valve, clear the box and turn it once by hand. A valve that has not moved in years can stick when you need it.
Close the water before evacuating
If you leave ahead of a storm, shut the main and turn off the water heater. A pipe that breaks in an empty house runs until someone comes home.
Get rugs and records off the floor
When surge or heavy rain is forecast, move rugs, electronics and paper files onto shelves or upstairs.
Cover roof damage before the next band
Rain through a torn roof keeps soaking the attic and ceilings. Get the opening covered before the next round of rain arrives.
Water in a Harris County home right now? Call any hour.
Call (832) 737-0315Questions from Harris County homeowners
Yes. We take calls from Pasadena, Clear Lake, Webster and Seabrook as well as League City, and someone answers the phone 24/7. Give us the street and a quick description of the damage.
Generally no. Surge is rising water, which falls under a flood policy. Rain that gets in through a damaged roof or window is a different case, often handled under the homeowners or a windstorm policy.
Photograph every room before touching anything, check for gas smells and electrical hazards, and keep the main water off until you know the plumbing held. Our hurricane season prep guide covers the rest.
Usually not. Surge water carries mud, salt and sewage, so wet drywall and insulation are removed, and the studs are washed and dried. Hard surfaces and some furniture can often be cleaned and kept.
Yes. We dry multi-unit buildings and work with owners and managers on which units the water reached, keeping separate readings for each unit so the records stay clear.
