Early Flooding Events

In its early years as a farming community, Friendswood experienced seasonal flooding. However, as development accelerated in the mid-20th century, the absence of modern infrastructure contributed to worsening flood impacts.

Tropical Storm Allison (2001)

Allison brought record-setting rainfall to the Houston region, overwhelming drainage systems citywide. In Friendswood, the storm exposed vulnerabilities in aging infrastructure, especially in older neighborhoods such as Imperial Estates.

Hurricane Ike (2008)

Although Hurricane Ike was primarily a wind-driven disaster, its impacts in Friendswood underscored the importance of strong emergency response coordination and emphasized the need for sustained investment in drainage infrastructure and maintenance.

Hurricane Harvey (2017)

Harvey was a defining event for Friendswood. Over four days, the area received more than 50 inches of rain, flooding over 3,000 homes and prompting more than 1,000 rescues. Entire neighborhoods were submerged. In the aftermath, Harvey spurred both local and regional efforts to prioritize long-term flood resilience and planning.

Post-Harvey Efforts

Following Harvey, the City took swift action:

• Partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Harris County Flood Control District to advance drainage improvements along Clear Creek, including participation in the Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou Watershed Study spearheaded by League City.
• Invested in detention basins and supported the buyout of flood-prone properties to reduce future flood risk.
• Secured voter-approved bonds to provide local funding for critical drainage projects.

Storm Beta (2020)

Beta brought prolonged rainfall to Friendswood over several days, leading to street flooding and isolated home flooding in some neighborhoods. Though not a large-scale disaster, the storm added to the cumulative stress on the City’s drainage system and reinforced the need for continued investment in flood mitigation and long-term drainage planning.

Hurricane Beryl (2024)

Beryl brought intense short-duration rainfall to Friendswood, causing street flooding in several areas, including Wilderness Trails. The drainage system in that neighborhood was built decades ago under older design standards and could not keep up with the runoff. While the flooding remained mostly in the streets, it highlighted how legacy infrastructure is struggling to meet modern rainfall conditions. Beryl reinforced the need for updated modeling and targeted improvements identified in the Master Drainage Plan.