What we reported

Harris County passed new building code regulations in early December for new construction permits located within the 100-year flood plain. The guidelines require that new structures be built 2 feet above the 500-year flood plain, according to Harris County Engineering Department documents.

The 500-year flood plain has a 0.2 percent chance of flooding each year. The new code does not affect incorporated areas like the city of Katy. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said these requirements could have saved many homes from Harvey flooding.

The latest

The requirements took effect Jan. 1 and as of Jan. 4, Herman Sanders, Communications Group assistant manager with the Harris County Engineering Department, said no affected permit applications were submitted to the department. Fort Bend and Waller county officials indicated that no changes have been made to their permitting requirements.

“Nobody wants to build a home that’s going to flood, particularly after what we’ve been through over the last two years,” Emmett said.

This story is one update from The January Issue. View the full list of Top 9 stories to follow in 2018 here.