How to Use the Flood Simulator

The flood simulator lets you visualize different flooding scenarios on the interactive map. This guide explains how to use each control to explore flood risks for your property.

Enable County-Wide Flooding

Turn on the county-wide flood visualization to see flooded areas across the map.

Check the "County-Wide Flooding" checkbox to enable flood visualization
When enabled, a water level slider appears below
Flooded areas appear as colored overlays on the map
Uses advanced flood modeling based on topography and elevation

Adjust Water Level

Use the slider to change the water level and see how it affects flood inundation.

Drag the slider to adjust water level from 0m (0ft) to 7m (23ft)
The slider moves in 1-meter increments
Water level displays in both meters and feet
The map updates to show new flooded areas at your selected water level
Flood analysis results update automatically to reflect the current scenario

Select Individual Bayous

Choose specific bayous to model flooding from particular waterways.

Browse the list of bayous in the "Individual Bayous" section
Check the box next to a bayou name to enable it
Each bayou has a unique color indicator shown next to its name
When enabled, a water level slider appears for that specific bayou
Adjust the slider from 0m (0ft) to 7m (23ft) in 1-meter increments
Select multiple bayous to simulate flooding from different sources simultaneously
Uncheck a bayou to remove it from the simulation

Add Rain to Scenarios

Layer rainfall on top of your flood scenarios to model combined flooding effects.

Rain controls become available when you enable County-Wide Flooding or select a bayou
Choose from rain amounts: None, 6 inches, 12 inches, 18 inches, or 24 inches
Rain applies to all active flood scenarios (both county-wide and individual bayous)
Select "None" to remove rain from your simulation

Add Property Characteristics (Optional)

Provide additional property details for more accurate flood damage estimates.

Click "Property Characteristics (Optional)" to expand the section
First Floor Height: Enter feet above ground (0 for slab-on-grade, 2-3 for elevated homes, higher for beach properties)
Finished Area: Override the HCAD square footage if it's inaccurate
Mitigation Features: Check boxes for flood protection features:
- Flood Vents - Allow water to flow through foundation
- Backflow Valve - Prevents sewer backup
- Raised Utilities - Electrical and HVAC elevated above flood levels
Mitigation features can reduce flood damage estimates by up to 15%

Tips for Using the Flood Simulator

Start with County-Wide Flooding

Begin by enabling county-wide flooding and adjusting the water level slider to understand the general flood risk in the area.

Layer Multiple Scenarios

Combine county-wide flooding, individual bayous, and rain to create comprehensive flood scenarios that model multiple contributing factors.

Watch Real-Time Updates

The flood analysis results (risk rating, flood depth, damage estimates) update automatically as you adjust sliders and controls.

Test Nearby Bayous

If your property is near specific bayous, enable those individual bayous to see how flooding from those waterways specifically affects your location.