Running Water Draw can flood — check FEMA maps before buying near it

Running Water Draw and Blackwater Draw both flow through Hale County. After heavy rain, these draws can rise quickly. FEMA maps floodplains for these areas as part of the National Flood Insurance Program. If your property sits in a mapped high-risk flood zone, your lender will likely require you to carry flood insurance.

You can look up any address in Hale County using the FEMA Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov. The Texas Flood mapping tool at map.texasflood.org also shows current gauge conditions. Flood maps do not cover every area equally, and unincorporated rural land may not have detailed mapping. If you're not sure, ask a licensed surveyor about elevation certificates for properties near drainages.