Hurricane Harvey

[Thumpalumpacus]

The other side of the coin.  There always is one.

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/houston-...gulations/

Houston is drowning—In its freedom from regulations

We do value our freedom here in Texas. As I write from soggy Central Texas, the cable news is showing people floating down Buffalo Bayou on their principles, proud residents of the largest city in these United States that did not grow in accordance with zoning ordinances.

The feeling there was that persons who own real estate should be free to develop it as they wish. Houston, also known as the Bayou City, is a great location because of its access to international shipping in the Gulf of Mexico. It is not a great location for building, though, because of all its  impervious cover. If water could easily sink into the ground, there would be less of it ripping down Houston’s rivers that just a week ago were overcrowded streets.

Yeah... the market works just fine!

Even without the impervious cover, there would still be disastrous flooding, because the substrate in Houston is clay, largely, which doesn't absorb water well. There's a reason why there are so many lakes, ponds, creeks, and inlets in the area, and that's also why the Interstate floods so easily.

Not writing to defend a lack of zoning, simply to point out a pertinent fact.