Neighborhood · Flood Risk
FloodMapsGet a detailed flood report of any Houston property
MAAPnext 2026 Status
Preliminary Maps Released
Reservoir overflow zones reclassified under updated modeling
Primary FEMA Zones
Harvey Impact
Severe3,500+ FEMA claims filed in 2017
Primary Watershed
Buffalo Bayou
Drains 102 sq mi through west Houston into downtown
Est. Flood Insurance Cost
$3,200–$6,500
Among the highest premiums in Harris County
Drainage Infrastructure
Addicks/Barker reservoir overflow zone
Army Corps of Engineers controlled-release reservoirs
Yes. A large portion of Memorial sits within FEMA Zones AE and A along the Buffalo Bayou corridor and the Addicks/Barker reservoir overflow zone, requiring flood insurance for federally backed mortgages. Memorial has some of Harris County’s highest premiums — $3,200 to $6,500 annually — due to extreme proximity to both the bayou channel and federal reservoirs.
Yes. FEMA’s MAAPnext 2026 preliminary maps incorporate updated Addicks and Barker reservoir overflow modeling for Memorial. Several properties previously in Zone X are being reclassified into Zone AE. The Army Corps of Engineers’ revised dam breach and controlled-release scenarios directly impact how far floodwater extends into Memorial’s residential streets during major storm events.
Severely. Memorial recorded over 3,500 FEMA flood damage claims after Harvey in August 2017. The Addicks and Barker reservoirs exceeded design capacity for the first time, forcing the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct controlled releases into Buffalo Bayou that inundated homes for days. Some Memorial properties experienced 4–6 feet of standing water.
Memorial faces dual flood exposure: direct frontage on Buffalo Bayou and location within the Addicks/Barker reservoir overflow zone. During Harvey, controlled reservoir releases flooded homes that had never flooded before. Despite being one of Houston’s wealthiest neighborhoods, Memorial carries some of the highest flood insurance premiums in the city — $3,200 to $6,500 annually.
It depends on the property’s elevation and reservoir proximity. Memorial’s flood risk varies dramatically — homes on higher ground may sit above base flood elevation while nearby lots are deep within the SFHA. A FloodMaps report shows your exact elevation, Addicks/Barker overflow exposure, FEMA zone status, Harvey damage records, and AI-analyzed risk score.
Memorial is one of Houston’s most affluent neighborhoods and also one of its most flood-exposed, situated along the Buffalo Bayou corridor and within the Addicks/Barker reservoir overflow zone in west Harris County. With large portions falling within FEMA Zones AE and A, and additional areas in Zone X facing reclassification under MAAPnext, property-level flood analysis is critical for buyers considering homes in this high-value market.
FloodMaps provides address-level flood risk reports for every property in Memorial, combining FEMA flood zone designations, USGS 3DEP LiDAR elevation data, Army Corps of Engineers reservoir modeling, Buffalo Bayou proximity analysis, 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 Memorial, evaluating your flood insurance costs, or want to understand how Addicks/Barker reservoir overflow zones affect your specific property, search your address for a comprehensive flood risk analysis — including reservoir proximity data that traditional FEMA flood maps don’t capture.