Chambers County is committed to providing its citizens with the knowledge and resources they can use to protect themselves and their property from flood hazards. Education, preparedness, and prevention are valuable and proven tools that help communities become resistant to natural disasters.
Regardless of where you live, you are at risk for flooding, and the county’s location on the Gulf Coast leaves it especially vulnerable to tropical storms, storm surge, and other flood-related events. The information and links connected to this page have been created to serve as an “all inclusive” source for property owners in Chambers County in order to increase awareness about flood hazards.
The Flood Hazard
A flood is an overflow of storm water onto normally dry land caused by rising water in an existing waterway, such as a river, stream or drainage ditch. There are many rivers, bayous, and tributaries in Chambers County that contribute to the flooding risk. Major streams include Trinity Bayou, Cedar Bayou, Turtle Bayou, and Double Bayou. Flooding in Chambers County can also be the result of storm surge from the Gulf brought on by tropical storms and hurricanes such as Hurricane Imelda in 2019 when the storm dumped twelve inches of rain in the county.
A structure’s risk of flooding may depend on where it is located relative to the county’s flooding sources. Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are issued by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify different levels of flood risks. You can find out your property’s flood risk by searching your address on the interactive Chambers County Map.
Click on the layer list on the right-side of that page that will show various flood-related layers such as the 2018 FEMA flood zones and watershed boundaries.
Click on the legend icon to display the colors for each flood zone, and then investigate the risk of each zone by visiting the Floodsmart What are Flood Zones and Maps? page.
For homes that were built prior to Chambers County receiving its first FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) (June 15, 1983), it may be helpful to have access to the historical FIRMs to know what flood zone was in effect at the time of construction. Knowing this information can be critical if there is a dispute with a mortgage lender or insurance agent. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center page is a good resource for both current and historical maps.
Measurements from rain gauges and stream gauges are helpful in examining flood risk beyond the FEMA maps by helping local officials determine areas that flood more often than others. In some cases, users can sign up for real-time alerts on the site and view inundation maps from the area’s biggest historical flooding events. Below is a list of gauges that service Chambers County.
While FIRMs are primarily used for flood insurance purposes and to identify flood risk, they also provide a basis for Chambers County to regulate development within FEMA’s floodplains. For regulatory purposes, the location of a property relative to FEMA’s flood zones indicates what restrictions may be placed on new and substantially improved construction. View map information by visiting FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Viewer.
All development in the floodplain of Chambers County requires a development permit per the Chambers County Floodplain Regulations (adopted in 2015, updated in 2025). Any development in the floodplain without a permit is illegal and should be reported to the County’s Floodplain Administrator (Report Illegal (Non-permitted) Development in a Floodplain). Development includes, but is not limited to, all new construction, filling, grading, and paving. Substantially damaged or improved structures, where the cost of repair (regardless of the cause of damage) or improvements to a structure equal or exceed 50% of the building’s market value, also require building permits and elevation certificates, and are held to the same standards as new construction. In most cases, substantially damaged or substantially improved structures will need to be brought into compliance with the current code and regulations which may mean elevating the structure.
Communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program must regulate to minimum standards in order to provide subsidized flood insurance to their citizens. In some cases, Chambers County has chosen to implement higher standards to provide further protection to its citizens. One higher standard the County adheres to in the Chambers County Floodplain Regulations (revised in June 2025) is the requirement of all new construction and substantially improved structures to be built to at least 24 inches above the base flood elevation, regardless of location in-or-out of a FEMA flood zone. The elevation requirement also extends to all equipment servicing the building such as an air conditioning unit or ductwork. This higher standard provides added protection to structures but does not eliminate the flooding threat. It also benefits homeowners by giving them discounts on their flood insurance, depending on how high their structure is above the base flood elevation. Visit the County’s Permitting Department for more information.
Property Protection
Rather than wait for a flood to occur, you can act now to protect your property from flood damage. Even if you’ve never flooded before, in the life of a 30-year mortgage, there is a 26% chance of experiencing a flood if a property is located in the floodplain. Various retrofitting techniques are available to help minimize flooding such as elevating the building, constructing barriers out of fill or concrete, and wet or dry floodproofing to make the building watertight. Because of Chambers County’s susceptibility to storm surge from Galveston Bay during hurricanes and tropical storms, measures that protect against high winds such as storm shutters or reinforced garage doors should also be considered. FEMA’s Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your Home from Flooding (FEMA P-312) is an excellent resource for exploring permanent retrofitting measures for your home. Visit the Financial Assistance for Property Protection Measures page for a list of financial assistance options for property protection and flood mitigation.
Flood Insurance
Chambers County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program which is backed by FEMA and is available to all properties, including those that have flooded previously. Regardless of your location in-or-out of a flood zone, everyone in the county is encouraged to purchase and maintain a flood insurance policy. Even if you live in an area with low or moderate flood risk, you are five times more likely to experience a flood than a fire in your home over the next 30 years and basic homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. Remember, there is a 30-day waiting period before the policy becomes effective so don’t wait until an impending storm to purchase a policy. Some people have flood insurance because of the mandatory purchase requirement by their bank or loan company when they obtained a mortgage or home improvement loan. Usually, these policies only cover the building’s structure and not the contents, but contents coverage is also available and is not only for homeowners. Renters are encouraged to purchase a contents policy as well.
Remember that a flood insurance policy must be renewed every year. Any lapse in coverage could result in claims not covered and expensive out of pocket costs to repair a damaged home. Visit Floodsmart: The Official Site of the National Flood Insurance Program for more details on flood insurance including types of policies, coverage options, and other useful information.
Flood Safety
It is important to know the difference between a flood watch and a flood warning. A flash flood watch is flooding that is possible in your area. A flash flood warning is flooding that is already occurring or will occur soon in your area. The best time to make sure you are ready for the next storm event is before one is headed your way. Have the following emergency supplies available in order to be prepared:
Non-perishable foods (at least a three-day supply) and water containers
More than one flashlight and extra batteries
Candles and matches
First-aid kit, along with any prescription medicine
Extra plywood (preferably heavy, pre-cut, and pre-drilled) to cover windows
Plastic sheeting (for water leaks)
Battery-powered radio (and/or a NOAA Weather Radio)
Cell phone with chargers
Copies of personal documents (birth certificates, insurance policies, pertinent medical information, deed/lease to home)
Extra cash
Camera for photos of damage
Pictures of your most valuable possessions (TV, furniture, jewelry, electronic equipment, appliances, etc.). These photos (and the item receipts) will come in handy to the insurance agent if the items are damaged by the flood event.
Flood Safety Tips
It is a good idea to have an emergency plan in place, and to follow these guidelines regarding safety in the event of a flood.
Learn the safest route from your home or business to higher safer ground.
If emergency management officials tell you to evacuate or leave your home, go immediately to a safe shelter, hotel, or relative’s house.
Make sure your family and employer know where you can be reached if you must leave your home in an evacuation.
Before you leave, turn off all utilities, gas, and electricity at the main switch. Stay away from power and electrical lines. Be alert for gas leaks.
Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood related deaths. Flood waters can also contain contaminants and pests (i.e., snakes).
Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock a person off his feet.
Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their cars than in any other location, and it only takes two feet of water to move a car. Visit the National Weather Service's Turn Around Don't Drown page for more information.
Register for ChambersWarns to receive emergency notifications. Visit the County’s emergency management page to learn more and how to sign up.