Flood Risk
The Guadalupe River Floods Hard in Gonzales County
The Guadalupe River runs through the county and can flood far beyond its banks — check FEMA maps before buying land near the river.
The Guadalupe River passes through Gonzales County and has a history of major flooding. In the October 1998 event, the Guadalupe rose to record or near-record levels at the Gonzales gauge, according to the National Weather Service. FEMA flood maps show that some low-lying land near the river can sit under many feet of water even in a "500-year" flood event. If you buy property near the river or its tributaries, check whether it sits in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
You can look up any address on FEMA's flood map service at msc.fema.gov. The Texas Flood Information Viewer at map.texasflood.org shows real-time river gauges and flood conditions across the state. If your lender requires flood insurance, check rates through the National Flood Insurance Program. The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (gbra.org) monitors river levels and issues flood alerts for this region.
Source to confirm: Texas Flood Information Viewer