Floods are known in history for the destruction they cause to the areas that they strike.The flood of 1935 mostly affected the downtown business district and residential areas of the city of Houston. The Magnolia Bridge over the city brought more massive destruction as it broke off.In downtown Houston, the area was more vulnerable to flooding, and the residents were more acquainted with living according to their surroundings. The floodwaters of 1935 began to rise, and Harris County suffered from a truly devastating flood. The raging rivers went down the streets of the city, and Harris County’s flooding history is still remembered by people for the amount of devastation it caused. In the history of the United States, two floods, one in 1929 and another in 1935, were caused by heavy rainfall. Floodwaters overflowed and affected the areas of Buffalo Bayou, downtown Houston, and Harris County. There, a petition named ‘Wild River’ was signed in 1937 by Texas Avenue and worked to protect the areas affected by the bayou along with their residents.In 1929, there was an economic loss of $1.4 million, and in 1935, the amount doubled with the number of people killed. Houston’s downtown flood almost lasted for months, and pipelines were blocked with filth and mud. Rail tracks were also destroyed. As per records, around 25 blocks of downtown Houston, mainly in business areas, along with 100 blocks where residents lived, were submerged in the flood of 1935. The businesses that were back on track after the flood of 1929 were devastated again by the wreckage of the flood. Many lives were lost in the flood, along with property damage. Houston’s history is remembered by people because of the flooding in its downtown areas. The 1900 Great Galveston Storm caused widespread flooding in Harris County. Houston dams were built in order to prevent Houston from more floods.If you enjoy reading this article about the flood of 1935 and the property damage that it caused, then do read some interesting and surprising facts about the 1925 Tri-State tornado and the 1966 North Dakota blizzard. How much damage did the 1935 Houston flood cause?The 1935 Houston flood was devastating, and an economic loss of $2.5 million was caused due to flooding in the city and its nearby bayous.Houston was just recovering from the flood of 1929 when, again, after six years, it had to go through the devastating flood of 1935. Harris County, Houston, Buffalo, and White Oak bayous were the areas most badly impacted in Texas. The downtown business district and residential areas of Harris County were again impacted by the havoc created.Residents and businessmen recovered from the loss of the flood of 1929 in this part of Texas. Further floods impacted them again, bringing severe financial loss. In the flooded areas of Harris County, Houston, Texas, the bodies of around five children were recovered, along with two adults. This heart-wrenching incident was reported in the Buffalo Bayou. The reservoirs of Houston, Texas, were destroyed, leaving people without water and making it difficult for them to survive.Already, the country was in the grip of the Great Depression, and they had to deal with natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. The Magnolia Bridge in Buffalo Bayou was also flooded in the flooding of 1935. Reservoirs were built in Harris County, Houston, in order to avoid massive destruction, such as that caused by flooding during heavy rainfall.How long did it take to recover from the flood?There is no specific answer to the question above, but general assumptions can be made with regard to how long it would have taken to recover from the flood.The flood in Houston lasted until December 10, 1935, and it all started on December 7, 1935, when the city was experiencing heavy rainfall, and the rise in the water level caused a flood. The Magnolia Bridge was the main thing that made the 1935 flood more severe. In 1937, a petition called ‘Wild River’ was started in Houston, Texas, and the Harris County Flood Control District was formed. Later reservoirs, named the Addicks reservoir and Barker reservoir, were built and redesigned from 1945-1950 to prevent floods in Buffalo Bayou, Houston, Texas.Houston is vulnerable to floods, and in the history of the United States, most of the Texas region has been hit by either hurricanes or floods, making it difficult for the people residing in the city. The Great Depression period ended in 1939. So, it can be assumed that Houston city might have recovered with the end of the Great Depression. Houston’s flood near the Buffalo Bayou was one of the worst disasters, with an economic loss of $2.5 million and seven deaths.How many times has Houston suffered from flooding?Houston is prone to flooding, and the city of Texas is typically flooded at least twice, if not three times per year.The geographical location of Houston is such that the city is more vulnerable to natural disasters like hurricanes and floods. As per reports submitted by the National Center for Environmental Information, Houston city was reported to have experienced one flood every three months.A flood can be caused by either a rise in water level due to heavy rains or a flash flood. This pattern of flooding was more prominently observed from 1996–2015. The flooding would last for around four to five days, creating chaos for people in its aftermath. However, currently, many preventive measures have been taken, and the type of flood has been keenly observed by scientists.Now, in order to avoid a heavy flood-like situation, rainwater is allowed into the streets of the city, then into the bayou. Finally, the water is flushed out into Galveston Bay. The floods that are still remembered for creating massive destruction in Houston are the floods of 1935, 1983, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2009, 2015, and 2017.How often does Houston get affected by natural disasters?The geographical location of Houston is such that it often gets stuck by natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes.Houston’s geographical location makes it vulnerable to heavy rainfall, hurricanes, and floods. Houston, Texas, is close to the Gulf of Mexico and has often been reported for its climatic changes. These bad climatic conditions make the city more prone to natural disasters. Many businessmen and residents rebuild their houses in accordance with the Flood Zone Map so that they face fewer problems.In 1935, the breaking of the Magnolia Bridge in Buffalo Bayou created more problems. Natural disasters in the city have made people face socioeconomic inequalities and have caused some to move away from the place. Air pollution, wreckage, and debris due to flooding worsen the environment. According to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration), the population of Houston residents is not capable of coping with the severity of such disasters.Occasional whirling tornadoes are also some of the natural disasters that often hit Houston, Texas. Dallas is another city that is also prone to natural disasters. However, floods are the most common natural disaster that has struck the city. Huntsville is the least prone to natural disasters in Texas.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked learning about the 1935 Houston flood, then why not take a look at our articles about the 1939 Australia fire or 1944 Vesuvius eruption?
Floods are known in history for the destruction they cause to the areas that they strike.
