Why does Houston always get flooded so easily?

CNBC did a story on it that aired either last night or the night before, I can't remember which. There's a print version here: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/20/houston-flood-damag...

In essence, Houston was built on low-lying land in a coastal plain which has always had periods of heavy rainfall. The land itself is heavy clay, which absorbs water slowly compared to other soil types. Compounding the problem, much of the city is paved rather than naturally landscaped, so there are nowhere near enough areas where porous topsoil and plants can accept some of the heavy rainfall. Add to that the low level of spending to improve infrastructure to specifically address flooding, and you've got billions of dollars and who knows how many lives wasted in floods which are preventable.

flat ground - nowhere for water to go and it just rained 14-20 inches in 24 hrs - it's going to flood ANYWHERE with that much rain that fast

Republicans running the state refuse to invest in infrastructure. Notice how it's always the areas where there's mostly Blacks? Just sayin!

It's near a body of water, that's why.

It is at sea level and has many bayous and creeks that have no place to go when it rains 15" in one night

Because bad civil engineers

Ask conservatives

Its near the coast and on a bay.