Flood Basics

Be Informed

The water cycle, also called the hydrologic cycle, is the natural process by which moisture from oceans and other water bodies moves into the atmosphere as evaporation and then falls back down to land as precipitation in the form of rain, sleet, hail, or snow. Due to our state’s varied landscape and location along the Gulf of Mexico, Texas’ version of the water cycle frequently results in flooding, with rainfall serving as the driver of most events. Explanations of the primary types of flooding that impact the state can be found here.

Floodplain Administrator (FPA)

A floodplain administrator is a local official that is appointed by the County Judge or Mayor to administer the community’s flood damage prevention ordinance and any of the activities related to maintaining the community’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The daily duties of an FPA mainly consist of reviewing permit applications for development in the floodplain to ensure the development will not negatively impact the community’s floodplain. FPAs are also responsible for addressing code violations related to the flood damage prevention ordinance and coordinating recovery efforts after a major disaster. The specific duties of FPAs can vary from community to community, but their main goal is to keep the community reasonably safe from flooding.

Find your local Floodplain Administrator