Hazard Mitigation, Urban Design

Evia Residential Development: Building Flood-Resilient Communities on Galveston Island

Galveston Island, Texas

Background

Galveston Island, a Gulf Coast barrier island, has long faced hurricane and flood risks, most notably during Hurricane Ike in 2008, which caused over $25 billion in damage. In response, Evia was developed using New Urbanist principles, with a focus on flood resilience and environmental sustainability across its 93 acres.

The Problem

Storm surge, high winds, and heavy rainfall have historically made Galveston a dangerous place to live. Typical development patterns in the area have led to significant property damage and lengthy recoveries after major storms.

The Strategy

Evia implemented multi-scale flood-resilient strategies, including:

Island: Built behind a 17-foot seawall and located inland, away from wave action.
Neighborhood: Designed with recessed roads, lakes, and wetlands to manage stormwater and reduce surface flooding.
Site: Elevated terrain and building pads (up to 13 feet above sea level) eliminate the need for stilts and improve runoff control.
Structure: Homes include tie-down systems, elevated utilities, pressure vents, and passive survivability features like solar panels and backup generators.
Household: Residents are educated on storm preparedness and must follow pre- and post-storm protocols, including debris removal and rapid recovery procedures.

Evia site plan (Mitigation Best Practices, Region VI, Mitigation Division, FEMA) APA PAS Report 584, Page 34

Residential structures adjacent to detention (Mitigation Best Practices, Region VI, Mitigation, APA PAS Report 584, Page 35

Lessons Learned

A thoughtfully designed community can thrive even in high-risk flood zones, as elevation, integrated drainage systems, and reinforced construction significantly mitigate flood damage.
Resident engagement in storm planning is critical to resilience.
Evidence from Hurricane Ike showed Evia suffered only minor damage, with increased property values post-disaster, demonstrating the effectiveness of its resilience strategy.

Source Acknowledgment

This content is adapted from Subdivision Design and Flood Hazard Areas (PAS Report No. 584, p. 73), edited by J. C. Schwab and published by the American Planning Association (2016). The original case study was contributed by Samuel D. Brody, Department of Marine Sciences, Texas A&M University at Galveston. The current version was authored by Jing Zhang, AICP, based on a thorough review of the original material. It has been reorganized and reformatted for presentation on Urban Planning Post.