Neighborhood · Flood Risk
FloodMapsGet a detailed flood report of any Houston property
MAAPnext 2026 Status
Under Review
Coastal storm surge modeling being incorporated
Primary FEMA Zones
Harvey Impact
Moderate850+ FEMA claims filed in 2017
Primary Watershed
Clear Creek
Drains into Galveston Bay with tidal influence
Est. Flood Insurance Cost
$1,800–$3,800
Higher near bay due to storm surge zone premiums
Drainage Infrastructure
Coastal storm surge modeling
NOAA tidal gauge network and bay surge monitoring
Many do. Properties in FEMA Zone AE and VE near Galveston Bay require flood insurance for federally backed mortgages. Zone VE designates coastal high-hazard areas subject to storm surge and wave action. Even Zone X properties face elevated risk from bay-driven surge events. Annual premiums range from $1,800 to $3,800 depending on elevation and bay proximity.
Yes, they are under review. FEMA’s MAAPnext program is incorporating updated coastal storm surge modeling for the Clear Lake area near Galveston Bay. New preliminary maps will reflect revised surge inundation zones, updated NOAA tidal data, and post-Harvey drainage infrastructure changes. Some properties currently in Zone X may be reclassified into higher-risk AE or VE designations.
Moderately. Clear Lake recorded roughly 850 FEMA flood damage claims after Harvey in August 2017, primarily from rainfall-driven flooding rather than storm surge. Properties along Clear Creek and near Galveston Bay saw 1–3 feet of inundation. The area’s coastal exposure means future hurricanes with stronger surge components could produce significantly worse flooding than Harvey delivered.
Clear Lake faces dual flood risk: rainfall-driven flooding from Clear Creek and coastal storm surge from Galveston Bay. Zone VE — which most inland neighborhoods never encounter — designates areas subject to wave action on top of surge. NOAA tidal gauges near NASA’s Johnson Space Center monitor bay levels, but surge events can overwhelm coastal defenses within hours.
It depends on the property’s elevation and distance from Galveston Bay. Clear Lake’s risk varies dramatically — homes on higher ground inland from the bay face primarily rainfall flooding, while bayfront properties carry both surge and wave exposure. A FloodMaps report shows your exact elevation, storm surge zone, FEMA designation, and AI-analyzed risk score.
Clear Lake is a bayside community in southeast Harris County near Galveston Bay, where flood risk comes from both rainfall-driven creek flooding and coastal storm surge. With portions of the area in FEMA Zones AE and VE — the highest-risk coastal designations — and other areas in Zone X, flood exposure varies significantly depending on a property’s elevation and proximity to the bay.
FloodMaps provides address-level flood risk reports for every property in Clear Lake, combining FEMA flood zone designations, USGS 3DEP LiDAR elevation data, NOAA coastal storm surge modeling, Clear Creek watershed proximity, Hurricane Harvey damage records, subsidence monitoring, and live Houston 311 flood reports. Each report includes base flood elevation comparisons, freeboard calculations, and an AI-powered risk summary.
If you’re considering purchasing a home in Clear Lake, evaluating your flood insurance options, or want to understand how coastal storm surge zones affect your specific property, search your address for a comprehensive flood risk analysis — including surge modeling and bay proximity data that traditional FEMA flood maps don’t capture.