Two streams shape Baytown's flood map. Cedar Bayou runs along the east side of town, marking Harris County's edge with Chambers and Liberty counties. Goose Creek winds through the older neighborhoods to the bay. The City of Baytown names both, with their tributaries, as the streams that flood when large amounts of rain arrive. If your house is near either one, this is what that means.
Two Bayous, Two Personalities
| Cedar Bayou | Goose Creek | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | East Baytown; the county line | Through older central and west Baytown |
| Watershed | Nearly 200 square miles, including parts of Mont Belvieu | Smaller and more urban |
| How it floods | Rain coming down the bayou, often combined with bay surge at its mouth | Fast rises in heavy local rain |
| Notable | Its gauge recorded Harvey's 51.88-inch total | Gave the original town of Goose Creek its name |
What Bayou Flooding Looks Like
- water rising across low yards and streets first
- garages and the lowest rooms taking water before the rest of the house
- water that can stay for hours or more on flat ground
- mud and silt left behind when it drops
Inside the House
If bayou water came in, it's a flood cleanup. Carpet, pad, insulation and the bottom of the drywall usually come out; the slab and framing are cleaned and dried with readings. Even a few inches across a slab floor reaches every room on that level and wicks up the walls. See flood and storm surge cleanup.
Watching the Bayous
- the Harris County Flood Warning System for bayou and creek gauges
- the City of Baytown's floodplain information for flood zones and past flooding
- the National Weather Service for flood watches and warnings
- Chambers County for the east side of the bayou
Living Beside the Water
- know which way water reaches your street: from the bayou, a ditch or the drains
- keep flood coverage in force; bayou-side homes are where it matters most
- keep photos of the house and belongings off-site
- after any flood, have the house dried with readings before repairs
The record that put Cedar Bayou in the history books: Harvey at Cedar Bayou. Why some streets sit lower: subsidence and Brownwood.
Buying Near a Bayou
If you're buying a home near Cedar Bayou or Goose Creek, ask the seller about past flooding, look up the flood zone, and price flood insurance before you close. Texas requires sellers to disclose certain flood information. A house that hasn't flooded can still be in a risk area, and one that did flood may have been repaired well or badly. Moisture readings and a look at the lower walls tell part of the story.
After the Water Recedes
Bayou floods often leave water standing in yards and streets for a while after the bayou itself drops. If you're going back in, wait for the all-clear, wear boots, and keep the breakers off in flooded rooms. Then follow the usual order: pictures, insurers, cleanup. The mud a bayou leaves is fine and slick; hose it off hard surfaces outside, but leave the inside for the cleanup crew.
Questions
Is my house in a flood zone if it's near Cedar Bayou?
Possibly. Check the city's floodplain information or FEMA's flood maps for your address.
Do both bayous flood at the same time?
In a big regional rain, they can. Cedar Bayou can also be pushed up by surge from the bay.
What should I do when the bayou is rising?
Follow official warnings, move valuables up, stay off flooded roads, and leave if told to.
Along the Bayous
This matters most in Cedar Bayou and Goose Creek.
Harvey at Cedar Bayou: What Record Rain Did to Baytown
The storm that set a national rainfall record next door.
Why Parts of Baytown Sit Lower Than They Used To
Subsidence, Brownwood and the Nature Center.