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Assessing Flood Problems in Central Texas
Student’s Name:
Professor’s Name
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Assessing Flood Problems in Central Texas
Outline
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Background ....................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
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Any Major Flash Floods in These Counties ..................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
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Running head: ASSESSING FLOOD PROBLEMS IN CENTRAL TEXAS

Assessing Flood Problems in Central Texas
Student’s Name:
Professor’s Name
Institutional Affiliation:
Due Date

1

ASSESSING FLOOD PROLEMS IN CENTRAL TEXAS

2

Abstract
Natural disasters affect many parts of the world, bringing about a lot of damage, and Central
Texas is one of the regions which has faced these occurrences. Serious cases of flooding come
along with a lot of fatalities, and in many cases the destruction of properties. It is accurate to note
that floods can be caused by either human activity on the environment which interferes with the
balance of nature, or natural causes which are normally beyond the control of human beings.
Increased intensity of floods has led to the death of many individuals, and increased number of
casualties in health institutions. Hence, to assess the causes of the frequent flooding in central
Texas, it is advisable to look at the geographical position of central Texas, and how it makes it
susceptible to attacks by flash floods. The project seeks to undertake a background review of
central Texas, and all the elements that play a critical role in enhancing damages brought forth
by the floods. Additionally, the paper aims at analyzing the statistical data of the casualties, and
determining whether there has been a decreased, or increased rate in the number of casualties
from the floods experienced in the region. In this perspective, the paper digs into the literature
analysis to support the notions that explain the cause of flooding experienced in the American
state. It is also accurate to note that the paper aims at assessing the diverse ways through which
appropriate measures can be put in place to ensure that the number of casualties reduces from the
disasters. Consequently, the assessment further aims at critically analyzing the preventive
mechanisms that the local government in Texas has undertaken with the aim of handling the
devastating effects brought forth by the frequent floods which are experienced in the region.
Additionally, the project aims at providing recommendations on the best practices which the
state can engage in to ensure that the menace brought forth by the floods is completely removed
from the region. Conclusively, the analyzed data from the assessment can be used to put in place

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policies, and regulations which can hugely impact on the overall flooding disaster in Central
Texas.
Key words; Texas, Flood, Hurricane, County, Central Texas, Flooding, Disaster.
Assessing Flood Problems in Central Texas
Introduction
Statistics, and reports indicate that in Houston Texas, flooding is a major problem which
affects the inhabitants of the region. The fact is that the economic advancement in the region is
crippled with the increased cases of flooding which are experienced in the region. A greater part
of the society believes that the entire task of preventing such disasters is totally dependent on the
local government in the region. The statement holds some aspect of truth but the society also
plays a crucial role in dictating the climatic condition of the region. Some industrial operation,
and daily human activities like construction play a role in increasing the adverse effects of
flooding. According to the Washington Post, over 80 individuals lost their lives while there were
scores of casualties in the latest case of flooding by hurricane Harvey (Moravec, 2017). From the
statistics, it is evident that cases of flooding immensely affect the wellbeing of the individuals in
Texas, and thus there is need to investigate on the best avenues to reduce the number of
casualties from the disaster. Additionally, it is important to improvise mechanisms which can
project future disasters, and therefore set in place proper evacuation, and emergency response
teams that can adequately work to reduce the impact that can be brought on the inhabitants of
Texas, and the overall damage on the properties. Hence, this paper aims at ascertaining the
background of flooding in Texas, analyzing the devastating effects brought forth by the disaster,

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elaborate on the causes of the disaster, and suggest possible mechanisms that can be put in place
to mitigate fatalities, and property destruction as a result of flooding.
Background
The overall scale of flooding experienced in Texas can be traced to many years back.
According to Brody, flooding in Texas is a phenomenon which has happened over many years,
and the devastating effects of the floods are evident (Brody, Highfield, & Kang, 2011). It is
correct to note that the coastal regions of the areas are the ones which are hugely affected by
these instances of flooding. Some of the earliest floods experienced in the region include the
Galveston hurricane which took place in September in the year 1900. The storm is perceived as
one of the deadliest hurricanes to hit the United States, and is categorized as a category 4 storm
(Yoon, 2012). The damage of the flood is estimated close to thirty million US dollars. Another
storm recorded in the region is the 1928 South Florida hurricane which was placed as a category
5 storm (Cook, and Merwade, 2009). The storm made a landfall near the West Palm Beach, and
the overall surge caused Lake Okeechobee to overflow, and this immensely affected the
surrounding area, and the inhabitants residing in the region. Close to 1700 homes were destroyed
as a result of the floods. The Miami hurricane of September 1926 is also a devastating flooding
situation experienced in the United States. The hurricane hit the region at a moment where the
inhabitants of the region were less familiar with hurricanes, and there were no emergency units
that could take care of the casualties, and thus close to 370 individuals lost their lives (Cook, and
Merwade, 2009). Consequently, the disaster was linked with close to 105million dollars
damages on properties.
With the history of disasters brought about by flooding, the present-day Texas is still
faced with severe cases of flooding. Baker in his assessment of the hydrological cycle, notes that

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despite the disasters being attributed to natural causes, the present hurricanes hitting the regions
are hugely contributed by the human activities which individuals undertake (Baker, 2006). For
instance, poor construction, and drainage systems serve as one of the factors which increase the
impacts of the floods experienced in the region. As a result, some of the latest disasters
experienced include hurricane Katrina which took place in August 2005. The category three
storm was so intense, and claimed the lives of close to 2000 people, and was linked to damages
of properties summing up to 100 billion dollars. According to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the damage brought forth by the emergency was severe, and submerged
close to 80% of the entire land cover in Orleans (Baker, 2006).
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, which is the largest city in Texas with a
population of over two million individuals. The tropical storm has reco...