It’s a rude awakening to find out that the house you just bought essentially becomes landlocked as your neighborhood becomes surrounded by inches of slow-to-drain water during a hard rain. That’s what some new Dallas-Fort Worth homeowners found out this morning as historic rainfall and the accompanying flash flooding affects the North Texas region.
In East Dallas, it’s especially true. Home prices have skyrocketed in highly desirable areas including Lakewood, Forest Hills, Hollywood Heights, and Casa Linda. But to find out that major thoroughfares such as Gaston, Garland Road, and Buckner Blvd. are impassable after many inches of overnight rain is a difficult realization.
As my family rose at the crack of dawn this morning, we found several flash flood warnings on our smartphones, several traffic lights blinking, and huge lines of vehicles stuck behind deep water at several intersections and roadways.
With the influx of new residents in our region, one has to wonder if they now wished they could have viewed their home and neighborhood during a hard rain. Would that have changed their mind?
Realtors React
“Here in East Dallas, we’re not scheduling showings for safety reasons,” says Ebby Halliday Realtor Mina Shamsa. “Showings will continue in other parts of town where the rain isn’t as bad. I have an inspection scheduled for my listing on Mockingbird at 2 p.m. today that has not been canceled.”
Already, August of 2022 is the wettest month on record since October of 2018. So if you were considering canceling your showing today, at least check the latest list of intersections impassable due to floodwaters to make sure you’re not going to be stuck should we get several inches of rain in a matter of a few days.
“Rainfall that causes flooding in Dallas is much like the power grid snafu in 2021. No one really worries about it until it happens. And then it’s disastrous,” said Catherine Blevens of the BBR Group at Compass. “My assistant just got back from showing a home in East Dallas. When he stepped inside, he noticed it was flooded. He called the listing agent to alert him. Needless to say, his client will not be making an offer.”
Blevens says Realtors should be checking on their listings today and blocking showings if nearby flooding is a hazard, and to check in on neighborhoods you’re considering buying in to see if there’s flooding.
“One of the reasons I live in East Dallas is because of the rolling hills and the lake and creeks, but it also means flooding,” Blevens said. “I know what route to take to school on days like this. It’s also why having a Realtor that lives in and knows the neighborhood is important because they will know which areas are affected by flooding.”
Dallas Flooded in a Flash
According to Justin Terveen, a Farmers Market resident and professional photographer, Deep Ellum was chaotic last night as water rose quickly and cars were swept away and into intersections. Vehicles were left abandoned in the middle of roadways, blocking many of the streets through the historic area. Many first-floor units in the area have taken on some water as the flash flooding swept through the area.
In the video below from WX Chasing, one lifelong Dallas resident said she has never seen Dallas streets like this. And considering how much rain is still to come this week, we may have even more record-breaking precipitation.
“If you’re looking for a lease, act quickly,” Blevens added, “because pretty soon everyone who has to repair flood damage will be snatching them up.”
