One blog I read today showed that the problem in Houston was how rapidly they developed without thought of covering over wetlands. These wetlands in the past would normally capture some of the flood water.
https://qz.com/1064364/hurricane-har...d-destruction/
http://www.businessinsider.com/hurri...flooded-2017-8
The Bayou City is "flat as a pancake."
Developers have failed to follow the federal wetlands mandate.