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The humid subtropical climate of eastern Texas means residents are familiar with floods resulting from intense precipitation events. One notable and exceptional flood event occurred from December 6-9, 1935 over the city of Houston, just six years after the devastating flood of 1929.

Rains began across Harris County, Tex., on December 6, 1935, and by the next day, the destructive flood was underway as the water drained downstream to Houston. The heavy rains continued unabated for two more days, leading to prolific rain totals. The Monthly Weather Review for December 1935 reported that excessive rainfall during a 42-hour period on the 6th, 7th, and 8th, led to amounts ranging from 5.5 inches at Houston to approximately 20 inches near the center of the 406 square mile watershed.

The heavy rain created massive flooding across the Buffalo and White Oak Bayous. Once the Bayous overflowed at their confluence near the center of Houston, major flooding hit the downtown district of Houston, including Main, Milam, Prairie, and Texas Streets. Water rose so high Houstonians rowed canoes down the metropolitan streets, alongside submerged storefronts and homes.

The extremely high, fast-moving flood waters also resulted in the destruction caused to homes and businesses because the Houston bayous rose 52 feet above normal by December 9th. The flood officially lasted until December 10th and when the waters receded, the damage was historic.

Eight people were killed, and the Port of Houston was shut down for 8 months as its docks were submerged. Nearly 40 percent of downtown structures were beyond repair, including the post office, the farmers market, and nearly all of the bridges. Twenty-five blocks of downtown were underwater, as were 100 residential blocks. The ship channel was also clogged with mud and debris, and miles of railroad tracks were uprooted too. Beyond downtown Houston, two-thirds of rural Harris County was left underwater. Property damage across the Houston area was estimated at $2.5 million, approximately $50.5 million in 2021 dollars.

The city of Houston and state of Texas decided to take action to prevent the terrible damage and loss of life caused by this flood from occurring again. Legislation passed by the 45th Texas Legislature in 1937 led to the creation of the Harris County Flood Control District. Its mission still to this day is reducing flood risks in Harris County. This catastrophic event also prompted the construction of the Addicks and Barker Dams in the 1940s as part of a federal project to prevent the bayous from flooding downstream areas, including downtown Houston.

Sources: weather.gov, usgs.gov, hcfcd.org

Story Image: Photo of 1935 flood on Franklin Avenue, Houston, TX via Wikimedia Commons.

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On This Day in 1935: Houston's Devastating Flood