Flood Plain Management
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS)
Flood Insurance
Elevation Certificates
Development in the Floodplain
Permits
Substantial Improvement
Property Protection
Local Bayou and Rain Gauges
Protect yourself and your family
Flood Protection Library
CRS Repetitive Loss Area Analysis
Floodplain Management
Flooding in the City of Jersey Village occurs primarily along White Oak Bayou as well as a smaller tributary of the bayou. The last major flood was the Tax Day Flood of 2016 which damaged 230 homes. Previous to that Jersey Village had not flooded since October 2002 and damaged more than 200 homes. In 2001, Tropical Storm Allison flooded approximately 500 homes, and in 1998 approximately 200 homes were flooded with Tropical Storm Francis. Although the Harris County Flood Control District has done much work to help alleviate the flood risk throughout the area, there is still a risk of flooding in our city. With significant rainfall, our drainage system could reach capacity, causing flooded streets, local ponding and overflowing bayous and ditches.
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS)
The City of Jersey Village and Harris County have been issued new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM’s), which went into effect June 9, 2014. These maps do not reflect the changes that the Harris County Flood Control District has made in our area; it just shows some corrections to the last effective map dated June 18th, 2007. The city has copies of the new floodplain maps, as well as all the previous maps issued, and we will be glad to see if your property will be affected. Click on the links below for the current FIRMs for the city or come by the Public Works Department at City Hall for more information.
FIRM 440 - November 15, 2019 West JV
FIRM Panel Index - November 15, 2019
FIRM 440 June 9-2014 West JV
FIRM 445 June 9-2014 East JV
FIRM Information
FEMA Flood Map Service Center - Interactive Flood Plain Map
Historical Flood Maps
Flood Insurance
Standard homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover losses due to floods. Because the City of Jersey Village is a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program, it is possible for property owners to obtain federally backed flood insurance. You also can insure the contents of your home from flooding. This insurance is available to any owner of insurable property in the city, regardless of whether or not the property is located in a floodplain.
We urge everyone to purchase flood insurance; property can flood that has never experienced flooding previously. Please note that there is a 30-day waiting period before coverage goes into effect, so don’t wait for the next storm to protect your family. If you have specific questions about flood insurance, or for more information on rates and coverage, contact your insurance agent. Insurance information is also available through the FEMA website at www.floodsmart.gov.
Answers to Questions about the NFIP
Summary of Coverage
Increased Cost of Compliance Coverage
Flood Insurance Basics
Flood Insurance Claims Handbook
Cheaper Flood Insurance
Elevation Certificates
In order for the insurance agents to determine the full risk-rate for your flood insurance, you will need an Elevation Certificate. Elevation Certificates, which are prepared by a licensed surveyor, identifies the elevation of the lowest floor of your house, as well as the base flood elevation. They can help reduce your insurance premiums if it shows that your finished floor elevation is higher than the base flood elevation.
Homeowners Guide to Elevation Certificates
The city has some certificates on file if you would like to see flood depth and slab elevations in your area and if obtaining one would be beneficial for you. Click here to see the elevation certificates on file.
Development in the Floodplain
In natural or undeveloped settings, a flood causes little or no damage. Floodplains in natural areas help reduce flood damage by allowing the water to spread over a large area, which reduces flood velocities and provides flood storage to reduce peak flows downstream. Jersey Meadow Golf Course and the new detention basin north of the course is an area in the city that is aiding in flood plain management. Another way to protect your property, as well as the rest of the Houston/Galveston area is to not dump debris or containments in the storm drains or bayous. These drains and ditches, which eventually flow to the gulf, will not only pollute the bay waters, but might also clog the pipes and eventually cause local street flooding. Go to www.backthebay.org and Clean Water Clear Choice for more information and tips on what you can do help keep Galveston Bay and its wildlife healthy and clean. If you wish to report debris dumping, call the Public Works Department at 713-466-2133.
Permits
Remember that you need to obtain permits for most work done throughout Jersey Village, not just in the floodplain. This includes, but not limited to, fencing, ancillary structures, grading and fill, additions to garages or homes. If you have a question about whether or not you need a permit for work you plan to do, just call the Permit Department at 713-466-2110 or stop by City Hall.
Substantial Improvement
Substantial improvement is defined as any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement to a building, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the building before the start of construction of the improvement. The City of Jersey Village requires that any building that has been damaged by fire or other causes, or has been substantially improved, shall be rebuilt in conformity with this article, as though it were a new building.
Substantial Improvement-Substantial Damage Desk Reference
Property Protection
Jersey Village has initiated numerous property protection measures to reduce flood risk in the community. The City has addressed property protection by requiring new construction in the special flood hazard area be constructed 24 inches above the 1% annual chance floodplain, or Base Flood Elevation (BFE.) If the first floor level of your structure is lower than the BFE on the FEMA flood map, consider ways to reduce the risk of flooding such as retrofitting or renovating to protect your structure.
Retrofitting measures may include:
- Elevating the building so that flood waters do not enter or reach the lowest floor above flood level,
- Constructing barriers out of compacted soil or concrete between the building and flood waters,
- “Dry floodproofing” to make the building walls and floor watertight,
- “Wet floodproofing” to protect a building by allowing floodwaters to enter uninhabited areas of the property such as parking and storage areas,
- Preventing basement flooding from sewer backup or sump pump failure.
Retrofitting information can be found in the Harris County Public Library or online at:
https://www.fema.gov/homeowners-guide-retrofitting
City staff can provide property protection advice and visit your property to discuss flood protection alternatives. The City has compiled a list of financial assistance programs to help both before and after a major storm event. Click here to view the list.
Local Bayou and Rain Gauges
Harris County Flood Control District monitors real time rain amounts and bayou levels throughout the County and the White Oak Bayou in which Jersey Village is located.
Below are links to the rain gauges that impact Jersey Village:
White Oak Bayou at Lakeview Drive in Jersey Village
White Oak Bayou at Jones Road
Below are links to the stream elevations that impact Jersey Village
White Oak Bayou at Lakeview Drive in Jersey Village
White Oak Bayou at Jones Road
To view the entire map of the Harris County Flood Warning System click here.
Protect Yourself and Your Family
It is important to be able to communicate with your family and friends in the event of a disaster. Whether it is having a specific person identified to contact for status updates or a safe location to meet up with family members, having a plan in place will give you peace of mind if disaster does strike.
It is good practice to have enough food, water and medicine on hand at all times to last you at least 3 days in the case of an emergency. Water service may be interrupted or unsafe to drink and food requiring little cooking and no refrigeration may be needed if electric power is interrupted. You should also have batteries, blankets, flashlights, first aid kit, rubber boots, rubber gloves, and a NOAA Weather Radio or other battery operated radio easily available. Click here for more information on how to build an emergency kit.
The City also offers this handy Hurricane Preparedness sheet for you to print and use.
Have a plan.
- Know where you will evacuate to, and the best way to get there.
- Have necessary supplies kit(s) ready to use.
- Turn around, don't drown.
If an evacuation order has been issued...
Unplug electrical equipment, such as radios and televisions, and small appliances, such as toasters and microwaves.
- Turn off gas, electricity, and water to the house.
- Know the difference between a mandatory and voluntary evacuation. If your city or municipality officials order a voluntary evacuation of the area it is up to an individual’s discretion to evacuate.
- Mandatory evacuations are designed to keep residents safe and residents must and shouldleave their homes and the area at risk to seek shelter in a safer area.
- Follow these instructions to evacuate yourself and your family :https://www.ready.gov/evacuating-yourself-and-your-family.
- Plan ahead, know the evacuation routes in your area and have a plan in place that all members of the household are aware of.
- Keep family members, neighbors, and other local friends informed of your evacuation plans. Alert them when you chose to evacuate to your planned destination. Designate a contact outside of the affected area to know your plan and whereabouts should communication fail within the area of risk.
- When the possibility of evacuation nears make sure to keep a full tank of gas in your car and throughout your trip away try keep it at half full to avoid breakdowns on congested roads.
- Check other fluid levels in the car, the air pressure in tires, and ensure that the vehicle chosen for evacuation can handle a long trip.
- Click here for FEMA guidelines.
- For more information on evacuation in Texas:
Assemble a supply kit for your home, work and car. Learn what to pack here.
Home:
- keep it in a designated place, make sure everyone in the family knows where it is.
- It should contain essential food, water, and supplies for at least three days.
Work:
- One container that is ready to grab and go in case you are evacuated from your workplace.
- Make sure you have food and water, and comfortable walking shoes
Car:
- Kit should contain food, water, first aid supplies, flares, jumper cables, and seasonal supplies
For special needs patients:
- Identify any special needs/disabilities an individual has and plan accordingly ahead of time. Helpful tips and suggestions can be found here.
For Parents with babies and/or small children
Have an emergency supplies kit for baby including:
- diapers
- wipes
- medications
- bottles
- formula
- water (for cleaning, and mixing with powdered formula)
- battery operated fan
- jars of baby food for 3 days
- blanket
Flood Protection Library Flood Protection Library - These items are available in
our local library or by clicking on the link
- Above the Flood: Elevating Your Floodprone House, FEMA-347 (2000)
- Answers to Questions About the National Flood Insurance Program, F-084 (2011)
- Coastal Construction Manual, FEMA-P-55, (2011)
- Elevated Residential Structures, FEMA-54 (1984)
- Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other Hazards, FEMA P-85 (2009)
- Mitigation of Flood and Erosion Damage to Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas, FEMA-257 (1994)
- Protecting Building Utilities From Flood Damage, FEMA-P-348 (2017)
- Protecting Floodplain Resources, FEMA-268 (1996)
- Reducing Damage from Localized Flooding, FEMA 511 (2005)
- Answers to Questions About Substantially Improved/ Substantially Damaged Buildings