Data-driven insights for local properties

📊 Environmental Assessment Report

This comprehensive report analyzes both flood risk and industrial pollution exposure for this property. The assessment combines multiple data sources including USGS elevation, FEMA flood zones, historical storm modeling, and EPA Toxic Release Inventory records.

🌊 Part 1: Flood Risk Analysis

Property Overview

This section shows the fundamental characteristics of the property, including its elevation above sea level, FEMA flood zone designation, and our calculated overall flood risk rating based on historical data and topographic analysis.

Address
5542 ARAPAHOE ST HOUSTON 77020
Building Size
1,050 sqft
Total structure area from HCAD building records.
Elevation
42.04 ft
Height above sea level from USGS data.
FEMA Flood Zone
X
Moderate to Low Risk - Outside 500-year floodplain
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk based on FEMA zone and simulation.

Risk Assessment Outputs

These detailed metrics show the technical outputs from our flood risk model. They include predicted water depths at the property during a 5000-year flood event and estimated flood damage based on USACE methodology.

Risk Rating
Very Low
Flood Depth
0 ft ±0.5 ft
No flooding at current water level.
Water Surface Elevation (WSE)
N/A
Water surface elevation data not available.
Area Inundated
N/A
Data not available
Nearest Bayou Stage
N/A
No nearby bayou within monitoring range
Depth-Damage Estimate (HCAD Valuation)
$0
Property not flooded at current water level. No damage to calculate.
Depth-Damage Estimate (Neighborhood Comparison)
$0
Property not flooded at current water level. No damage to calculate.
Analysis Method
COG Bathtub Model
Raster-based flood inundation query

Flood Simulation

This simulation shows whether the property would flood based on a 5000-year flood event with 3m (9.84ft) water level. Use the interactive tool to explore different scenarios.

✅ Property Would Be Safe
Safety Margin: 32.04 feet
Severity: Safe

Adjust Flood Simulation

The analysis above uses default settings (5000-year flood, 3m/9.84ft water level). To explore different flood scenarios with interactive maps, return to the main tool:

Open Interactive Analysis Tool

Flood Risk Recommendations

Based on the property's flood risk profile, here are specific action items to consider.

  • FEMA Zone X (minimal hazard) - flood insurance available at preferred rates.
  • Review the interactive flood simulator to understand how different rainfall events could affect this property.
  • Contact Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) for drainage projects and flood information.

🏭 Part 2: Industrial Pollution Exposure

Property Pollution Ranking
High
Higher pollution than 78% of Houston homes
This ranking compares pollution levels within 2 miles of this property against 10,000 randomly sampled Houston metro properties. Lower percentiles indicate higher pollution exposure.
Industrial Pollution Nearby (Last 10 Years)
641 thousand lbs
Very High
98.2x more than typical Houston property
≈ 32 dump trucks of chemicals within 2 miles
Total chemical releases from all industrial facilities within a 2-mile radius over the past decade (2014–2024). Data from EPA's Toxic Release Inventory tracking air, water, and land discharges.
💨 Air Pollution (Last 10 Years)
640 thousand lbs
Extremely High
132.8x more than typical Houston property
Chemicals released into the air from nearby facilities over 10 years. Includes both fugitive emissions (leaks, evaporation) and stack emissions (smokestacks, vents). May affect local air quality.
💧 Water Pollution (Last 10 Years)
359 lbs
High
Most Houston properties have none nearby
Chemical discharges to surface water (bayous, streams, drainage) from industrial facilities within 2 miles over the past decade. May impact local waterways and drainage systems.

❤️ Why It Matters

High chemical activity nearby can indicate industrial zones, truck traffic, or potential odor and noise issues. These factors may affect air quality, long-term property desirability, and neighborhood character. This data helps you understand the industrial footprint around your property.

🏙️ Houston Metro Benchmarks

Comparison with typical Houston properties (based on 10,000 randomly sampled homes). All measurements are for chemicals released within a 2-mile radius.

PeriodTotalAirWater
Typical Houston Property (2014-2024)6,524 lbs4,822 lbs0 lbs
This Property (2014-2024)640,562 lbs640,204 lbs359 lbs
Typical Houston Property (2024 Only)2 lbs1 lbs0 lbs
This Property (2024 Only)109,716 lbs60,297 lbs74 lbs

📊 How This Property Compares to Houston Metro

Based on a random sample of 10,000 Houston properties, this chart shows the distribution of pollution levels across the metro area. The highlighted bar indicates where this property falls compared to other homes. Lower percentiles mean higher pollution exposure.

0-9thMost Polluted
9.9%
10-19th
10.1%
20-29th
9.9%
30-39th
10.1%
40-49th
9.7%
50-59th
10.2%
60-69th
6%
70-79th
5.8%
80-89th
4.3%
90-100thLowest Pollution
34.2%
Higher pollution than 78% of Houston homes
Each bar's width represents the percentage of Houston homes in that pollution range. This property ranks in the 20-29th percentile (top 25% most polluted).

Top chemicals released near this property (past 10 years):

Zinc compounds, n-Hexane, Xylene (mixed isomers), Styrene, Nitric acid

View the full list of 34 chemicals below.

Chemicals Released (2014-2024, 10-Year Total) (34 chemicals)

#ChemicalCAS#Air (lbs, 10yr)Water (lbs, 10yr)Total (lbs, 10yr)
1Zinc compoundsN982176,613 lbs0 lbs176,613 lbs
2n-Hexane110-54-3125,432 lbs0 lbs125,432 lbs
3Xylene (mixed isomers)1330-20-7101,920 lbs0 lbs101,920 lbs
4Styrene100-42-572,717 lbs0 lbs72,717 lbs
5Nitric acid7697-37-235,459 lbs0 lbs35,459 lbs
6n-Butyl alcohol71-36-333,617 lbs0 lbs33,617 lbs
7Toluene108-88-324,730 lbs0 lbs25,903 lbs
8Phenol108-95-223,252 lbs0 lbs23,252 lbs
9Ethylbenzene100-41-415,965 lbs0 lbs15,965 lbs
101,2,4-Trimethylbenzene95-63-68,648 lbs0 lbs8,648 lbs
11Ammonia7664-41-73,770 lbs0 lbs3,770 lbs
12Methyl isobutyl ketone108-10-13,355 lbs0 lbs3,355 lbs
13Lead compoundsN4203,123 lbs54 lbs3,177 lbs
14Cyclohexane110-82-72,389 lbs0 lbs2,389 lbs
15Copper compoundsN1002,021 lbs0 lbs2,021 lbs
16Formaldehyde50-00-01,893 lbs0 lbs1,893 lbs
17Methanol67-56-11,849 lbs0 lbs1,849 lbs
18Lead And Lead CompoundsN4201,552 lbs0 lbs1,552 lbs
19Ethylene glycol107-21-1856 lbs0 lbs856 lbs
20Propylene115-07-1810 lbs0 lbs810 lbs
21Manganese7439-96-52 lbs221 lbs223 lbs
22Chromium compounds (except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region)N09067 lbs0 lbs67 lbs
23Nickel7440-02-021 lbs41 lbs62 lbs
24Chromium7440-47-319 lbs12 lbs35 lbs
25Polycyclic aromatic compoundsN59026 lbs0 lbs26 lbs
26Aluminum (fume or dust)7429-90-524 lbs0 lbs24 lbs
27Lead7439-92-10 lbs24 lbs24 lbs
28Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region)N09019 lbs0 lbs19 lbs
29Manganese compoundsN45016 lbs0 lbs16 lbs
30Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)N51115 lbs0 lbs15 lbs
31Nickel compoundsN49513 lbs0 lbs13 lbs
32Copper And Copper CompoundsN10010 lbs0 lbs10 lbs
33Copper7440-50-80 lbs6 lbs6 lbs
34Cobalt7440-48-40 lbs0 lbs4 lbs

Top chemicals released near this property (2024 only):

Zinc compounds, Manganese, Xylene (mixed isomers), n-Hexane, Toluene

View the full list of 14 chemicals reported within 2 miles for 2024.

Chemicals Released (2024 Only) (14 chemicals)

#ChemicalCAS#Air (lbs/yr)Water (lbs/yr)Total (lbs/yr)
1Zinc compoundsN9829,014 lbs0 lbs20,571 lbs
2Manganese7439-96-50 lbs41 lbs19,987 lbs
3Xylene (mixed isomers)1330-20-717,453 lbs0 lbs17,453 lbs
4n-Hexane110-54-312,290 lbs0 lbs12,290 lbs
5Toluene108-88-311,886 lbs0 lbs11,886 lbs
6Nitric acid7697-37-2750 lbs0 lbs9,441 lbs
7Styrene100-42-57,400 lbs0 lbs7,400 lbs
8Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region)N0906 lbs0 lbs6,071 lbs
9Nickel7440-02-00 lbs31 lbs2,080 lbs
101,2,4-Trimethylbenzene95-63-61,210 lbs0 lbs1,210 lbs
11Lead And Lead CompoundsN420161 lbs0 lbs1,152 lbs
12Methanol67-56-1125 lbs0 lbs125 lbs
13Lead7439-92-10 lbs3 lbs48 lbs
14Polycyclic aromatic compoundsN5903 lbs0 lbs3 lbs

Explore More Properties