Quaker settlers led by T. Hadley Lewis and Frank J. Brown founded Friendswood in 1895, and it remains the only permanent Texas town that began as a Quaker colony. Today the city of about 41,000 spreads across the northwest corner of Galveston County and into Harris County, sitting around 30 feet above sea level. That is higher ground than the bay shore towns to the east, but Friendswood's main flood threat runs right through it: Clear Creek, which also splits the city between school districts.
The Restoration Job is a free phone line that connects you to independent restoration providers. We don't send crews ourselves. Call (888) 317-9980 around the clock and we'll connect you with a provider that serves Friendswood for extraction, drying, cleanup and repair.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Friendswood. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
56 Inches in Five Days: Friendswood During Harvey
Of all the rain gauges in Galveston County during Hurricane Harvey, the one in Friendswood topped the list with 56.00 inches between August 25 and 29, 2017. The National Weather Service Houston/Galveston office reported that Clear Creek reached record levels across its watershed, causing significant damage in Friendswood and League City.
Elevation offered limited protection. Thirty feet above sea level does not help much when the creek running through town is carrying runoff from four counties and rain is falling at rates storm drains were never sized for. Homes near the creek took water from the channel, while others flooded from streets and backyards that had nowhere to drain.
Creek Floodwater Is Category 3 Water
Restoration providers classify water by contamination. A clean supply-line leak is the least serious; creek and street floodwater sits at the other end because it can carry sewage, lawn chemicals, fuel and bacteria. That classification drives what can be saved.
- Carpet and pad that floodwater touched are almost always discarded
- Drywall and insulation are cut out above the wet line, often two feet or more
- Solid wood framing and the slab are cleaned, disinfected and dried
- Cabinets with particleboard bases usually can't be saved after soaking
Professional flood cleanup handles that tear-out and sanitizing, then dries the structure and documents moisture readings so your adjuster has a clear record. Do not run the HVAC system if its ducts or air handler took in floodwater until it has been inspected.
Everyday Leaks in Polly Ranch, Wedgewood and Other Subdivisions
Like most houses on this part of the coastal plain, homes in subdivisions such as Polly Ranch and Wedgewood are typically single-family houses built on slabs. When the creek is behaving, the leaks that bring people to the phone are usually ordinary ones: a water heater failing in a garage or attic closet, an icemaker line splitting behind the refrigerator, a condensate drain backing up during a long summer of air conditioning, or a toilet supply line giving way upstairs.
These clean-water losses can often be dried in place if they're caught early. A provider doing water extraction will pull standing water off the floor, then use meters to trace how far moisture moved under baseboards and into the next room.
A Short Window Before Mold Takes Hold
Southeast Texas humidity means damp drywall and wood rarely dry on their own. Within a couple of days, wet materials behind baseboards or under vanities can begin growing mold, often out of sight. After any leak, keep the house cool, run fans and a dehumidifier, and get wet materials out quickly. If you notice a musty odor weeks after a repair, have the area checked. Established growth should be removed under containment as part of mold remediation instead of simply painted over.
Before the Next Big Rain
Friendswood residents saw in 2017 how fast Clear Creek can rise. A few steps make the next event easier to handle. Look up your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and know your zone. Remember that flood coverage is a separate policy with a waiting period, so it has to be in place well before a storm is in the forecast. Keep photos of rooms and valuables on your phone or in cloud storage, and move important papers off the floor. If you live close to the creek, watch National Weather Service Houston/Galveston forecasts when heavy rain is expected. Nearby League City shares the same creek and many of the same lessons.
Neighborhoods and Nearby Communities
Calls come in from across Friendswood, including:
- Polly Ranch
- Wedgewood
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
Common Questions
Friendswood is higher than the coast. Do I really need flood insurance?
The roughly 30-foot elevation helps against storm surge from Galveston Bay, but it did not stop Clear Creek and heavy rain from flooding homes during Harvey, when Friendswood recorded 56 inches. Homeowners policies generally exclude flooding, and flood policies usually have a waiting period, so it's worth checking your FEMA flood zone and pricing a policy before storm season.
My home is on the Harris County side of Friendswood. Who handles drainage?
Friendswood straddles Galveston and Harris counties, and drainage responsibilities can involve the city, a county flood control agency or a drainage district depending on location. The Clear Creek watershed also has a federal flood risk management project. For a specific ditch or culvert near your home, start with the city's public works department.
Can a restoration provider save my hardwood floors after a leak?
Sometimes. Solid hardwood soaked by a clean-water leak and dried quickly with specialized mats and dehumidifiers can often be saved, though some cupping may remain. Engineered wood and laminate are less forgiving. Floors soaked by creek or street floodwater are usually removed because of contamination.