Floodplain/Stormwater

League City Has Six New Flood Gauge Stations

League City and Harris County Flood Control District have installed six flood gauge stations within the City boundary. Three of them are in the Clear Creek watershed, and the others are in the Dickinson Bayou Watershed. The City flood gauge stations are in the Flood Warning System (FWS) of the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD). Just search by “Site by Agency” to see the City of League City’s gauge stations. Residents are encouraged to check and track the water levels of the bayou/ditch during rainfall events.

The flood gauge stations are located at the following locations:

Egret Bay Blvd at Robinson Bayou	FM 518 at Landing Ditch	Bay Area Blvd at Magnolia Creek
FM 646 at Gum Bayou	FM 646 at Benson Bayou	Hughes Lane at Borden Gully

Flood Mitigation Efforts by League City Provide Homeowners with Discounts on Flood Insurance

As a result of League City’s floodplain management activities in the community to protect property and lives, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has increased the City’s community rating, which allows homeowners to receive substantial discounts on their National Flood Insurance Policies (NFIP).

Starting April 1, 2021, homeowners who renew their flood insurance policy may automatically receive a 25 percent premium discount on their policy if they reside in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), which includes Zones A, AE, AH, AR, A99, V, and VE. Any homeowners who live outside the designated area may receive a 10 percent premium discount on their flood insurance. Homeowners may verify which FEMA Flood Zone they live in by viewing the Flood Insurance Map.

For more information about these premium discounts, homeowners should contact their insurance agent or company that administers their flood insurance policy.

Revised FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps Effective August 15

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is formally revising the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) within Harris and Galveston Counties which may affect the floodplain designation of your property within League City. These new maps will become effective on August 15, 2019. For League City, this revision means that approximately 10,674 acres and approximately 3730 homes will be located within FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area (commonly known as the 100-year floodplain). The revision also has approximately 6,420 acres and approximately 7,378 homes located with the 0.2% Zone (formerly called the 500-year floodplain).

The City is required to adopt the revised FIRMs to continue participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP allows the City and property owners to be eligible for federally managed flood insurance, federally backed mortgages, federal grants, and federal disaster relief, thereby providing a means for property owners to financially protect themselves (a risk not covered by standard homeowner’s insurance policies).

To view the FEMA flood insurance maps, click on FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Viewer.

Elevation Options Will Depend on Local Regulations and Flood Zones

Some property owners impacted by Tropical Storm Imelda will be required by their local government to elevate their structures to or above the base flood elevation (BFE). Those owners have structures that are determined to be substantially damaged. Other property owners may be interested in elevating, even though they are not required because building above the BFE can reduce potential future flood losses and can result in a substantial discount on flood insurance premiums. Each community’s floodplain administrator or building department can tell you what building requirements apply to your property.

In Zone V (coastal high-risk areas) National Flood Insurance Program regulations require that the building be elevated on an open foundation (e.g., pilings, posts, piers) and that the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member (e.g., floor support beam) be at or above the BFE. For more information on construction in Zone V, view the FEMA Coastal Construction Manual (PDF)
In Zone A (high-risk areas) buildings may be elevated either on an open foundation or on continuous foundation walls below the BFE. Regardless of the type of foundation used, Zone A buildings must be elevated so that the lowest floor is at or above the BFE. If continuous walls are used below the BFE, they must be equipped with openings that allow flood waters to flow into and out of the area enclosed by the walls.
For more information on considerations and techniques for elevating structures that are outside of the coastal high-risk areas, view FEMA’s Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting, Chapter 5, Elevating Your Home (PDF).

What Is Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC)?

ICC coverage is included under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) to help policyholders with the costs incurred if they are required by the community building department to meet rebuilding standards after a flood.

ICC coverage provides up to $30,000 to help pay for relocating, elevating, demolishing, and floodproofing (non-residential buildings), or any combination of these mitigation activities.

The ICC portion of the claim is handled separately from the building and/or contents portion of the claim. However, the combination of payments cannot exceed the maximum coverage limits available through the NFIP. For example, a policyholder cannot receive more than $250,000 in claim payments for a residential building.

Am I Eligible? Yes, if:

You have an NFIP flood insurance policy; and
Your community determines whether your home is substantially or repetitively damaged by flooding; and
The flood damage to your home is equal to 50 percent of the pre-flood market value.

How Do I File a Claim for ICC?

If your community determines your structure is substantially or repetitively damaged, discuss what mitigation activities will be required to rebuild and if any grants may be available.
Promptly contact your insurance carrier to file a claim for ICC. Do not begin repair work before filing an ICC claim.
Submit to your insurance carrier the letter from your community declaring the building substantially or repetitively damaged, a signed contract for the mitigation activity, and the building permit that documents rebuilding requirements.
The insurance carrier will verify that the flood damage to your building equals at least 50 percent of the pre-flood market value, which is required to start the ICC claim.

For more information, visit ICC.

FEMA Mitigation Minute

In FY 2019, 1,229 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants totaling more than $850 million and 1,656 Public Assistance projects with 406 Mitigation (PA 406 Mitigation) funding totaling $305 million were awarded. Region one had 43 HMA projects with $9,661,417 obligated and 84 PA 406 Mitigation projects with $1,052,682 obligated. Region two had 99 HMA projects with $156,145,439 obligated and 182 PA 406 Mitigation projects with $174,132,718 obligated. Region three had 53 HMA projects with $12,770,922 obligated and 24 PA 406 Mitigation projects with $826,368 obligated. Region four had 424 HMA projects with $211,295,312 obligated and 419 PA 406 Mitigation projects with $49,699,009 obligated. Region five had 66 HMA projects with $33,787,906 obligated and 142 PA 406 Mitigation projects with $1,901,716 obligated. Region six had 200 HMA projects with $297,879,979 obligated and 590 PA 406 Mitigation projects with $72,106,863 obligated. Region seven had 79 HMA projects with $17,514,551 obligated and 62 PA 406 Mitigation projects with $384,558 obligated. Region eight had 107 HMA projects with $35,781,844 obligated and 30 PA 406 Mitigation projects with $1,587,739 obligated. Region nine had 119 HMA projects with $73,407,618 obligated and 93 PA 406 Mitigation projects with $2,938,771 obligated. Region ten had 39 HMA projects with $10,325,930 obligated and 30 PA 406 Mitigation projects with $765,263 obligated.

Learn More

Learn more about the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Programs here.

Learn more about Public Assistance 406 Mitigation, including eligibility requirements, examples of mitigation projects, and where to go for more guidance.

View the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Resources page here.

Local Ordinances & Substantial Damage Determinations

Communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program have a flood damage prevention ordinance or ordinance language that requires determinations of which structures need to be rebuilt more resilient after recent flooding. The primary goal of making substantial damage determinations is to reduce the risk of future physical and economic loss due to natural disasters. The local official who is designated to administer the National Flood Insurance Program in his or her community is responsible for making substantial damage determinations. Structures that are substantially damaged must be brought into compliance with local flood damage prevention requirements.