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  <span class="story-short-url"><a href="https://nyti.ms/2xMybl4">https://nyti.ms/2xMybl4</a></span>
</header>
<nav id="ribbon" class="ribbon ribbon-start nocontent robots-nocontent" aria-hidden="true">
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        <div class="loader loader-t-logo-32x32-ecedeb-ffffff"><span class="visually-hidden">Loading...</span></div>
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</div>
    <main id="main" class="main" role="main">
      <article id="story" class="story theme-interactive theme-main">
        
        <header class="story-header interactive-header">
          <div class="story-meta">
            <button class="button comments-button theme-kicker" data-skip-to-para-id="">
</button>
            <div class="kicker-container">
              <h2 class="kicker interactive-kicker">
                <span class="kicker-label">
                  <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/pages/opinion/index.html">
                    Opinion
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                </span>
                
              </h2>
              <div id="sharetools-interactive"
                aria-label="tools" role="group"
                class="sharetools theme-classic sharetools-interactive"
                data-shares="show-all|Share"
                data-url="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/09/05/opinion/hurricane-harvey-flood-houston-development.html"
                data-title="How Houston’s Growth Created the Perfect Flood Conditions"
                data-author="By VIKAS BAJAJ, JESSIA MA and STUART A. THOMPSON"
                data-media="https://static01.nyt.com/images/icons/t_logo_291_black.png"
                data-description="Hurricane Harvey’s damage was magnified by policies that encouraged development in flood-prone areas."
                data-publish-date="September 5, 2017">
                <div class="ad sharetools-inline-article-ad hidden nocontent robots-nocontent"></div>
              </div>
            </div>
            <h1 class="story-heading interactive-headline" itemprop="headline">How Houston’s Growth Created the Perfect Flood Conditions</h1>
            <div class="story-meta-footer interactive-meta-footer">
              <div class="interactive-byline">
    <p class="byline-dateline">
      <span class="byline" itemprop="author creator" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemid="https://www.nytimes.com/by/vikas-bajaj">
      By <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/vikas-bajaj" title="More Articles by Vikas Bajaj"><span class="byline-author" data-byline-name="VIKAS BAJAJ" itemprop="name">VIKAS BAJAJ</span></a>, 
    </span><span class="byline" itemprop="author creator" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
      <span class="byline-author" data-byline-name="JESSIA MA" itemprop="name">JESSIA MA</span> and 
    </span><span class="byline last-byline" itemprop="author creator" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemid="https://www.nytimes.com/by/stuart-a-thompson">
      <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/stuart-a-thompson" title="More Articles by Stuart A. Thompson"><span class="byline-author" data-byline-name="STUART A. THOMPSON" itemprop="name">STUART A. THOMPSON</span></a>
    </span>
      <time class="dateline" datetime="2017-09-05" itemprop="dateModified" content="2017-09-05">SEPT. 5, 2017</time>
    </p>
  </div>
              <p class="interactive-leadin summary">
                
                
                
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.g-freebird-lazy.ll-loaded {
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/* Mobile issues */
/* Get rid of border under intro and share tools on mobile */
.story-header.interactive-header {
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}
/* Share tools issues */
/* Pad out the kicker/sharetool space */
.story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .kicker-container {
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/* Override the moving sharetools on mobile */
.story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .kicker-container .sharetools {
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/* Maintain the proper space with the section name and kicker next to share tools */
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  float: left;
  width: 70%;
  display: inline-block;
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  border: none;
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/* Center headlines for standalone and embedded interactives */
/* @import (inline) "nyt5/centered-headline.css"; */
/* Fullbleed interactive-graphic container */
/* remove left offset */
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  margin-left: 0;
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.viewport-large-70 .masthead.masthead-theme-standard {
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  margin-right: 0;
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  margin-left: 10px;
  margin-right: 10px;
}

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  max-width: 720px;
  margin-left: auto;
  margin-right: auto;
}

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.viewport-medium-30 .story.theme-main .story-footer,
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  max-width: 945px;
}

.viewport-large-30 .ad.top-ad,
.viewport-large-30 .story-header.interactive-header,
.viewport-large-30 .story.theme-main .story-footer,
.viewport-large-30 .related-coverage {
  max-width: 1050px;
}

.g-body, .g-map-key, .g-asset-source, .g-table-container, .g-column-container, .g-asset-hed {
  padding-left: 10px;
  padding-right: 10px;
}

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.viewport-large .g-map-key,
.viewport-large .g-asset-source,
.viewport-large .g-table-container,
.viewport-large .g-column-container,
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  padding-left: 0;
  padding-right: 0;
}

/* For use with LaziestLoader */
/* @import (inline) "nyt5/laziestloader.css"; */
/* Fix spacing at top of story */
.has-top-ad .story.theme-interactive,
.has-ribbon .story.theme-interactive {
  margin-top: 10px;
}

/* Fix comments button margin */
.story.theme-interactive .comments-button.theme-kicker {
  margin-top: 0;
}

/* Get rid of border under intro and share tools on mobile */
.page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header {
  border-bottom: none;
}

/* Pad out the kicker/sharetool space */
.story.theme-interactive .story-meta .kicker {
  margin-bottom: 22px;
}

.viewport-medium-10 .story.theme-interactive .story-meta .kicker {
  margin-bottom: 24px;
}

/* Override the moving sharetools on mobile */
.story.theme-interactive .story-header .story-meta .kicker-container .sharetools {
  position: relative;
  left: auto;
  bottom: auto;
  width: auto;
  margin-top: -6px;
  float: right;
  clear: none;
}

/* Maintain the proper space with the section name and kicker next to share tools */
.story.theme-interactive .story-header .story-meta .interactive-kicker {
  float: left;
  width: 65%;
  display: inline-block;
}

/* Gets rid of the extra space under the intro that puts too much space there in mobile and desktop */
.page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header {
  margin-bottom: 0;
}

.page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta {
  margin-bottom: 10px;
}

/*Fixes styling on share tools at bottom of minimal interactives*/
.story.theme-minimal .sharetools.layout-horizontal{
  width:auto;
  margin-top:11px;
}
.story.theme-minimal .sharetools.layout-horizontal .sharetool {
  display: inline-block;
  border-top: 0;
}
.story.theme-minimal .sharetools.layout-horizontal .sharetool:first-child a {
  margin-left: 0;
  padding-left: 0;
  border-left: none;
}
.story.theme-minimal .sharetools.layout-horizontal .sharetool a {
  padding-left: 15px;
  padding-right: 5px;
  height: 20px;
  border-left: 1px solid #e2e2e2;
}
.story.theme-minimal .sharetools.layout-horizontal .sharetool a:hover {
  background-color: transparent;  
}

/* uncomment to fix related content and footer layout on max_width: 720 pages */
/*
.related-coverage {
  max-width: 720px;
}

.viewport-medium-30 .page-footer nav ul,
.viewport-medium-50 .page-footer nav ul {
  margin-left: 28px;
}

.viewport-medium-30 .page-footer nav.last-nav {
  float: none;
}

.viewport-medium-30 .page-footer nav.last-nav ul {
  margin-left: 239px;
}
*/

@media only screen and (max-width: 719px) {
  .page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta,
  .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta {
    margin-bottom: 1rem;
  }
}
.page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .kicker-container,
.story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .kicker-container {
  border-bottom: 0;
  border-top: 1px solid #eaeaea;
  padding-top: 1rem;
}
.page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .kicker-container h2.interactive-kicker,
.story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .kicker-container h2.interactive-kicker {
  display: none;
}
.page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .story-heading,
.story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .story-heading,
.page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta h1.story-heading,
.story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta h1.story-heading {
  font-size: 3.5rem;
  font-weight: 100;
  line-height: 1.15;
  padding-top: 0rem;
  max-width: 750px;
  font-family: "nyt-cheltenham-extra-cn-bd";
  padding-bottom: 0rem;
  margin-bottom: 0rem;
  letter-spacing: -0.1px;
  word-spacing: 0.25px;
  max-width: 100%;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 719px) {
  .page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .story-heading,
  .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .story-heading,
  .page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta h1.story-heading,
  .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta h1.story-heading {
    font-size: 2.75rem;
    line-height: 45px;
    margin-bottom: 0.25rem;
  }
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 320px) {
  .page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .story-heading,
  .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .story-heading,
  .page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta h1.story-heading,
  .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta h1.story-heading {
    font-size: 3rem;
    line-height: 50px;
  }
}
.page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .story-heading:before,
.story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .story-heading:before,
.page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta h1.story-heading:before,
.story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta h1.story-heading:before {
  content: "Opinion";
  text-align: center;
  display: block;
  font-family: 'nyt-cheltenham', georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;
  font-size: 27px;
  font-weight: 100;
  letter-spacing: 0px;
  width: auto;
  margin-bottom: 1rem;
  padding-top: 0rem;
  opacity: 0.4;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 719px) {
  .page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .story-heading:before,
  .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .story-heading:before,
  .page-interactive-default .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta h1.story-heading:before,
  .story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta h1.story-heading:before {
    font-size: 25px;
  }
}
.story.theme-main .story-header .story-meta .byline-dateline {
  margin-bottom: 0;
}
.story.theme-main .interactive-byline {
  text-align: center;
  margin-bottom: 0px;
}
.story.theme-main .interactive-byline span,
.story.theme-main .interactive-byline time {
  display: inline;
}
.story.theme-main .interactive-byline .byline-dateline {
  margin-top: 0.5rem;
  margin-bottom: 0rem;
  display: block;
}
.story.theme-main .interactive-byline .byline {
  margin-top: 1.5rem;
}
.story.theme-main .interactive-byline .dateline {
  font-weight: 500;
  display: block;
  margin-top: 0.5rem;
  margin-left: 0;
}
.viewport-small-10 .g-subhed h2,
.g-subhed h2 {
  font-family: 'nyt-cheltenham-sh', georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;
  font-size: 1.55rem;
  letter-spacing: -0.25px;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 719px) {
  .viewport-small-10 .g-subhed h2,
  .g-subhed h2 {
    max-width: 300px;
    font-size: 1.5rem;
  }
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 320px) {
  .viewport-small-10 .g-subhed h2,
  .g-subhed h2 {
    font-size: 1.25rem;
  }
}
p.g-body {
  font-size: 18.75px;
  max-width: 550px;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 719px) {
  p.g-body {
    font-size: 16px;
    max-width: 300px;
    line-height: 1.6;
  }
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 320px) {
  p.g-body {
    font-size: 15.5px;
    max-width: 275px;
  }
}
.g-table {
  margin: 2rem auto;
  margin-bottom: 2rem;
}
.g-table .g-credit {
  font-size: 11px;
  letter-spacing: 0.25px;
  color: #666;
}
.g-table th b {
  font-weight: 100;
  letter-spacing: 2px;
}
.g-table table tr td p {
  font-size: 12px;
  letter-spacing: 0.25px;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 719px) {
  .g-table table tr td p {
    line-height: 15px;
  }
}
.g-item-ai2html {
  marign: 2rem auto;
}
.story.theme-main {
  padding-top: 0;
}
.story.theme-main .story-footer {
  margin-top: 5rem;
  margin-bottom: 2rem;
}
/** FUTURE HED STYLE? **/
/** FUTURE SUBHED STYLE ? **/
.g-picture-book {
  position: relative;
  /*margin: 5em auto;*/
  border-top: solid 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);
  border-bottom: solid 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);
}
.g-bg-wrap {
  width: 100%;
}
.g-picture-book__bg {
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  /*top: 0; left:0; bottom:0; right:0; */
  height: 100vh;
  width: 100%;
  z-index: -1;
  display: -webkit-box;
  display: -ms-flexbox;
  display: flex;
  -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
  -webkit-box-direction: normal;
      -ms-flex-direction: column;
          flex-direction: column;
  -webkit-box-pack: end;
      -ms-flex-pack: end;
          justify-content: flex-end;
}
.g-picture-book__bg div {
  display: none;
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  right: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  font: 600 48px/1 nyt-franklin;
  color: yellow;
  margin-top: 0%;
}
.g-picture-book__bg div:first-child {
  display: block;
}
.pb-bg {
  background-size: cover;
  background-size: contain;
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
  background-position: center;
}
.pb-bg-numberone {
  background-image: url('https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/pb1.png');
}
.pb-bg-numbertwo {
  background-image: url('https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/pb1.png');
}
.pb-bg-numberthree {
  background-image: url('https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/pb-zoom.jpg');
}
.pb-bg-numberfour {
  background-image: url('https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/pb2.png');
}
.pb-bg-numberfive {
  background-image: url('https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/pb3.png');
}
.g-picture-book__bg.g-fixed {
  position: fixed;
  top: 0;
  /*left:0; bottom:0; right:0; */
}
.g-picture-book__bg.g-bottom {
  position: absolute;
  bottom: 0;
  top: auto;
}
.g-picture-book p.g-picture-book__page {
  margin-top: 60vh !important;
  margin-bottom: 60vh !important;
  margin-left: 20%;
  width: 30%;
  background-color: #fff;
  padding: 1rem;
  font: normal 700 20px/1.5 'nyt-cheltenham-sh', Georgia, serif !important;
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
}
.g-picture-book p.paragraph {
  /*background: rgba(255,255,255,0.8);*/
  text-shadow: 1px 1px 3px #ffffff;
  text-shadow: 0px 2px 4px #ffffff;
}
/*.g-picture-book p.g-picture-book__page:first-of-type {
  margin-top: 50vh;
}*/
.g-picture-book p.g-picture-book__page:last-of-type {
  margin-bottom: 80vh !important;
}
.g-graphic {
  text-align: center;
}
.g-graphic p,
.g-graphic .source {
  text-align: left;
}
p.g-body {
  font-size: 18px;
}
@media screen and (max-width: 500px) {
  .no-mobile {
    display: none;
  }
}
.mobile-only {
  display: none;
}
@media screen and (max-width: 500px) {
  .mobile-only {
    display: block;
  }
}
.g-item-ai2html {
  margin: 2.5rem auto;
}
.g-timelapse {
  text-align: center;
}
.g-timelapse.small {
  display: block;
  max-width: 550px;
  margin: 0 auto;
}
.g-timelapse.template-aside.small {
  width: 100%;
  max-width: 900px;
  width: 400px;
}
@media screen and (max-width: 450px) {
  .g-timelapse.template-aside.small {
    width: 100%;
  }
}
.g-timelapse.template-aside.small .timelapse {
  width: 100%;
  float: left;
}
.g-timelapse.template-aside.small .aside {
  float: right;
  width: 49%;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 719px) {
  .g-timelapse.template-aside.small .timelapse,
  .g-timelapse.template-aside.small .aside {
    width: 100%;
  }
}
.timelapse-wrapper {
  margin: 20px 0;
  padding-top: 2rem;
  padding-bottom: 2rem;
}
.timelapse-wrapper.template-aside.small.gif {
  max-width: 450px !important;
}
.timelapse-wrapper.katy .timelapse .overlays .annotation {
  font-size: 11px;
  opacity: 0.85;
  text-shadow: none;
}
.timelapse-wrapper.leader .overlays .annotation.square .legend-label {
  text-transform: uppercase;
  font-size: 10px;
  letter-spacing: 2px;
  text-shadow: none;
  font-weight: 600;
  line-height: 11px;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 719px) {
  .timelapse-wrapper.leader .overlays {
    display: none;
  }
}
.timelapse-wrapper .legend-label {
  text-transform: none;
  letter-spacing: 0;
  font-size: 16px;
  line-height: 15px;
  margin-top: -0.5rem;
  margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
}
.timelapse-wrapper.timelapse-wrapper.template-aside {
  width: 100%;
}
.timelapse-wrapper .source {
  font-family: 'nyt-franklin', Arial, sans-serif;
  color: #999;
  font-size: 12px;
  margin: 5px 0;
}
@media screen and (max-width: 1225px) {
  .timelapse-wrapper.leader .source {
    padding-left: 10px;
  }
}
@media screen and (max-width: 765px) {
  .timelapse-wrapper.leader .source {
    padding-left: 0;
  }
}
.timelapse-wrapper.small {
  position: relative;
}
.timelapse-wrapper.small.gif .year-label {
  display: none;
}
.timelapse-wrapper.small .subhed {
  width: 100%;
}
.timelapse-wrapper.small .subhed,
.timelapse-wrapper.small .year-label {
  font-family: "nyt-cheltenham";
  font-size: 28px;
  font-weight: 600;
  display: inline-block;
  padding-bottom: 5px;
  text-transform: none;
  letter-spacing: -0.5px;
  margin-bottom: 1rem;
}
.timelapse-wrapper.small .year-label {
  font-weight: 600;
  position: absolute;
  top: 4.5rem;
  left: 0px;
  z-index: 10;
  letter-spacing: 1px;
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
  font-smoothing: antialiased;
  color: white;
  text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
  background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
  padding: 5px 10px;
}
#houston-close-square .legend-label,
#houston-upper-west-square .legend-label,
#houston-north-square .legend-label {
  text-transform: uppercase;
  font-size: 10px;
  letter-spacing: 2.5px;
  text-shadow: none;
  font-weight: 600;
  line-height: 10px;
}
#g-floodplains-box .g-pstyle0,
#g-floodplains-box .g-pstyle1,
#g-floodplains-box .g-artboard p {
  text-shadow: -2px -2px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5), 2px -2px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5), -2px 2px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5), 2px 2px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5);
}
#g-insurance-box .g-pstyle0,
#g-insurance-box .g-pstyle1 {
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
  font-smoothing: antialiased;
  text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
}
#g-insurance-box .g-item-ai2html p {
  text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
}
#g-insurance-box .g-item-ai2html #g-ai0-6 p,
#g-insurance-box .g-item-ai2html #g-ai0-7 p,
#g-insurance-box .g-item-ai2html #g-ai0-8 p {
  text-shadow: 0px 0px 0px;
}
.legend {
  font-family: 'nyt-franklin', Arial, sans-serif;
  font-size: 11.5px;
  font-weight: 100;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  letter-spacing: 1.5px;
  margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.legend .legend-group {
  display: inline-block;
}
.legend .legend-group div {
  display: inline-block;
}
.legend .legend-group .legend-label {
  margin-right: 10px;
  font-size: 11px;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  letter-spacing: 2px;
  margin-left: 5px;
}
.legend .legend-group .legend-box {
  width: 15px;
  height: 15px;
  margin-bottom: -3px;
  background-color: #bbb;
  border-radius: 100%;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 719px) {
  .legend .legend-group {
    margin-bottom: 10px;
  }
}
.timelapse {
  position: relative;
  font-weight: 600;
  text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
  font-family: 'nyt-franklin', Arial, sans-serif;
  color: white;
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
  font-smoothing: antialiased;
}
.timelapse .underlays {
  position: relative;
  background-color: #222;
  height: 615px;
}
.timelapse .underlays .preloading {
  width: 0px;
  height: 0px;
  overflow: hidden;
}
.timelapse.small .underlays {
  height: 440px;
}
.timelapse.small.gif .underlays {
  height: auto;
}
.timelapse.small.gif .underlays img {
  margin-bottom: 5px;
  position: relative;
  opacity: 1;
}
.timelapse .underlays img {
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100%;
  opacity: 0.75;
}
.timelapse .underlays img:first-child {
  display: block;
}
.timelapse[data-folder="katy/"] .overlays .overlay {
  opacity: 1;
}
.timelapse[data-folder="katy/"] .overlays .overlay.damage {
  z-index: 800 !important;
}
.timelapse .bar-wrapper {
  position: absolute;
  bottom: 70px;
  border: 1px solid red;
  z-index: 109;
  width: 80%;
  -webkit-transform: translateX(10%);
          transform: translateX(10%);
  margin: 0 auto;
}
.timelapse .bar-wrapper .bar {
  width: 15px;
  height: 50px;
  position: absolute;
  background-color: #eee;
}
.timelapse.small .labels {
  display: none;
}
.timelapse .labels div {
  z-index: 250;
}
.timelapse .labels .year-label {
  position: absolute;
  font-size: 25px;
  top: 40px;
  left: 25px;
  letter-spacing: 0px;
  margin-top: -20px;
}
.timelapse .labels .legend-label {
  position: absolute;
  top: 55px;
  left: 20px;
  z-index: 999;
  font-weight: 400;
  font-size: 14px;
}
.timelapse .labels .legend-label .square-legend {
  display: inline-block;
  width: 10px;
  margin-bottom: -1px;
  margin-left: 7px;
  margin-right: 2px;
  height: 10px;
  border: 1px solid white;
}
@media screen and (max-width: 990px) {
  .timelapse .labels .legend-label {
    top: auto;
    bottom: 20px;
  }
}
@media screen and (max-width: 500px) {
  .timelapse .labels .legend-label {
    top: auto;
    bottom: 10px;
  }
}
.timelapse .labels .city-label {
  left: 48%;
  position: absolute;
  top: 52%;
  z-index: 999;
  -webkit-transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(-100%);
          transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(-100%);
  text-align: center;
  font-size: 15px;
  font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: 5px;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
  padding: 8px 10px 8px 15px;
}
@media screen and (max-width: 700px) {
  .timelapse .labels .city-label {
    margin-top: 20px;
  }
}
.timelapse.small .overlays .annotation.square {
  width: 30%;
  height: 30%;
}
.timelapse #houston-close-square {
  left: 20%;
  top: 35%;
  width: 45%;
}
.timelapse #houston-close-square .square {
  height: 100%;
}
.timelapse #houston-upper-west-square {
  left: 39%;
  top: 40%;
  width: 45%;
}
.timelapse #houston-upper-west-square .square {
  height: 100%;
}
.timelapse #houston-north-square {
  left: 65%;
  top: 45%;
  width: 15%;
}
.timelapse #houston-north-square .square {
  height: 80%;
}
.timelapse .overlays .annotation {
  text-transform: uppercase;
  letter-spacing: 3px;
  font-size: 11px;
  font-weight: 600;
  position: absolute;
  z-index: 101;
  text-shadow: none;
  text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
  font-smoothing: antialiased;
}
.timelapse .overlays .annotation img {
  padding: 10px 0;
}
.timelapse .overlays .annotation .dot {
  width: 6px;
  height: 6px;
  left: 50%;
  margin-top: 5px;
  -webkit-transform: translateX(-50%);
          transform: translateX(-50%);
  background-color: white;
  border-radius: 100%;
  position: relative;
  box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.66);
}
.timelapse .overlays .annotation.square {
  width: 10%;
  height: 10%;
}
.timelapse .overlays .annotation.square .square {
  border: 1px solid white;
  box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.66);
}
.timelapse .overlays .annotation.square .legend-label {
  text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
  text-transform: none;
  letter-spacing: 1px;
  margin-bottom: 5px;
  text-align: left;
  font-weight: 600;
}
.timelapse .overlays .label {
  text-transform: uppercase;
  letter-spacing: 3px;
  font-size: 11px;
  font-weight: 600;
  position: absolute;
  z-index: 101;
  opacity: 0.85;
  text-shadow: none;
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
  font-smoothing: antialiased;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 719px) {
  .timelapse .overlays .label {
    font-size: 10px;
    letter-spacing: 2px;
  }
}
.timelapse .overlays .label#houston-upper-west {
  bottom: 75px;
  left: 50px;
}
.timelapse .overlays .label#houston-north {
  top: 80%;
  left: 50%;
  -webkit-transform: translateX(-50%);
          transform: translateX(-50%);
}
.timelapse .overlays .label#houston-close {
  top: 55%;
  right: 5%;
}
.timelapse .overlays .overlay {
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  z-index: 100;
  width: 100%;
  opacity: .45;
}
.timelapse .overlays .overlay.after,
.timelapse .overlays .overlay.annotation.after {
  opacity: 0;
  z-index: 125;
}
.timelapse .overlays .overlay.annotation.after {
  z-index: 999;
  width: auto;
}
.timelapse .overlays .overlay.g-item-ai2html {
  display: none;
  z-index: 200;
  opacity: 1;
}
.timelapse .underlays {
  position: relative;
}
#g-risk-small-box .g-artboard p {
  text-shadow: -2px -2px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5), 2px -2px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5), -2px 2px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5), 2px 2px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5);
}
#g-risk-small-box .g-aiImg {
  opacity: 0.65;
}
.story.theme-main .interactive-byline {
  margin-top: 1rem;
}
#g-katy-floodplain-box .g-pstyle0 {
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
  font-smoothing: antialiased;
}
#g-floodplains-box p.g-pstyle4,
#g-floodplains-box p.g-pstyle5,
#g-floodplains-box p.g-pstyle6 {
  text-shadow: none !important;
}
</style>



<div class="g-graphic g-graphic-freebird" data-preview-slug="2017-08-28-opinion-flood-map">

  

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-timelapse ">
    

      <div class="timelapse-wrapper houston leader leader" style="margin:0 auto; max-width:1200px">
  
  
  <div class="timelapse leader" data-start="2000" data-end="2016" data-skip="1981, 1982, 1983, 1984" data-folder="" data-suffix="">
    <!-- <div class="bar-wrapper"><div class="bar"></div></div> -->
    <div class="labels">
      <div class="year-label"></div>
      
        <!-- <div class="legend-label mobile-only"><div class="square-legend"></div>= high development</div> -->
      
      <div class="city-label">Houston</div>
    </div>
    <div class="overlays">
      
      
      
        <div class="annotation square" style="left: 8%; top: 40%">
          <div class="legend-label">High development</div>
          <div class="square"></div>
        </div>
        <div class="annotation square" style="left:18%; top:8%">
          <div class="legend-label">High development</div>
          <div class="square"></div>
        </div>
        <div class="annotation square" style="left:58%; top:5%">
          <div class="legend-label">High development</div>
          <div class="square"></div>
        </div>
      
      
      
      
    </div>
    <div class="underlays">
      
        <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/2000.jpg" />
      
    </div>
  </div>
  
    <div class="clearfix"></div>
  <div class="source">
    Sources: Beyond Floods and FEMA (floodplains); Google (satellite imagery)
  </div>
</div>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">As floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey recede in Houston, one thing that’s been revealed is that some of the damage — financial, physical, emotional — could have been avoided.</p>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">Flood hazard maps by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, showing the 100-year floodplain, an area with a 1 percent risk for flooding in any given year, mark where homeowners are required to have federally sponsored flood insurance. This is one of the few early warning signals the United States has for flooding. For Houston, those maps were thoroughly inadequate. Early assessments show many homes were flooded even though they were located far from the designated floodplains. Many homes in what’s known as the 500-year floodplain — with a 0.2 percent chance of flooding in a year — are also flooded.</p>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">Areas surrounding the Katy Prairies, sprawling grasslands in western Harris County, provide one such example. The region has been heavily developed over the past 30 years, sometimes overlapping or abutting floodplains. Local officials did not do enough to preserve native grasses, set aside open spaces or improve drainage.</p>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-timelapse ">
    

      <div class="timelapse-wrapper katy  " style="margin:0 auto; max-width:900px">
  
  
    <div class="legend">
      <div class="legend-group">
        <div class="legend-box" style="background-color:#cd9b72"></div> <div class="legend-label">100-year floodplain</div>
      </div>
      <div class="legend-group">
        <div class="legend-box" style="background-color:#eb7636"></div> <div class="legend-label">500-year floodplain</div>
      </div>
      <div class="legend-group" style="margin-left:15px">
        <div class="legend-box" style="background-color:#13bcdb"></div> <div class="legend-label">Building damage</div>
      </div>
    </div>
  
  <div class="timelapse " data-start="1995" data-end="2016" data-skip="" data-folder="katy/" data-suffix="">
    <!-- <div class="bar-wrapper"><div class="bar"></div></div> -->
    <div class="labels">
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      <div class="city-label"></div>
    </div>
    <div class="overlays">
      
        <!-- <div class="overlay after">
          <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/katy/katy-floods.png" width="100%"/>
        </div> -->

        <div class="overlay after annotation" style="left: 25%; top: 50%">
          <div>Building Damage</div>
        </div>
        <div class="overlay damage after">
          <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/katy/katy-damage-cb.png" width="100%"/>
        </div>
        <div class="overlay">
          <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/katy/katy-floodplain-cb.png" width="100%"/>
        </div>
        <div class="annotation" style="left: 45%; top: 70%"  id="katy-floodplain">
          <div>Floodplain</div>
        </div>
      
      
      
      
      
      
    </div>
    <div class="underlays">
      
        <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/katy/1995.jpg" />
      
    </div>
  </div>
  
    <div class="clearfix"></div>
  <div class="source">
    Sources: Beyond Floods and FEMA (floodplains); Google (satellite imagery); FEMA (building damage, through Sept. 2, 2017)
    
  </div>
</div>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">Damage around Katy was not restricted to floodplains identified by FEMA.</p>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">“It gives people a feeling of complacency if they are not required to buy insurance,” said Howard Kunreuther, the co-director of the Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center at the University of Pennsylvania. He would like to see FEMA provide people the "gradation of their risk."</p>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">Less understandable is how often these flood maps were ignored in Houston, where policies encouraged development in flood-prone areas while reducing the region’s natural defenses to flooding.</p>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">And while the region has its own unique history, geography, economy and approach to growth, the lessons it will be learning in the coming weeks would apply to many other areas of the country.</p>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-graphic ">
    

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		<div id="g-ai0-10" class="g-Layer_1 g-aiAbs" style="top:32.4098%;left:62.0447%;width:4.4444%;">
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			<p>Source: FEMA (building damage); Beyond Floods (floodplains)</p>
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		<div id="g-ai1-11" class="g-Layer_1 g-aiAbs" style="top:32.6451%;left:64.6596%;width:5.8182%;">
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		<div id="g-ai1-16" class="g-Layer_1 g-aiAbs g-aiPointText" style="top:61.2089%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:7.7635%;width:78px;">
			<p class="g-pstyle6">East Houston</p>
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		<div id="g-ai1-17" class="g-Layer_1 g-aiAbs g-aiPointText" style="top:61.2089%;margin-top:-8.7px;left:57.1628%;width:52px;">
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		<div id="g-ai1-18" class="g-Layer_1 g-aiAbs" style="top:60.5894%;left:3.9732%;width:5.8182%;">
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		<div id="g-ai1-19" class="g-Layer_1 g-aiAbs" style="top:60.5894%;left:53.5037%;width:5.8182%;">
			<p class="g-pstyle5">2</p>
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		<div id="g-ai1-20" class="g-Layer_1 g-aiAbs g-aiPointText" style="top:86.4659%;margin-top:-17.2px;left:26.2766%;width:115px;">
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		<div id="g-ai1-21" class="g-ai2html-settings g-aiAbs g-aiPointText" style="top:98.2264%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:2.9556%;width:442px;">
			<p>Sources: FEMA (building damage, through Sept. 2, 2017); Beyond Floods (floodplains)</p>
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		<div id="g-ai2-19" class="g-ai2html-settings g-aiAbs g-aiPointText" style="top:98.0317%;margin-top:-14.4px;left:9.0824%;width:260px;">
			<p>Sources: FEMA (building damage, through Sept. 2,</p>
			<p>2017); Beyond Floods (floodplains)</p>
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      <div class="g-item g-subhed ">
    

      <h2>Houston’s Rampant Development</h2>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">With Houston’s economy booming, thanks in large part to oil and gas industries, residential and business development spread. As developers carved out new neighborhoods, they sometimes overlapped or abutted the floodplain — zones highly susceptible to flooding. Elsewhere, roads, parking lots, homes and businesses covered over wetlands and prairies that absorb flood waters.</p>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">An area east of Katy was submerged in floodwaters after rainfall breached the Addicks Reservoir. One neighborhood, Westlake Forest, was built in what the FEMA designated a floodplain.</p>


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</div>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">A newer development located on the south side of Kingwood, a community in northeast Houston, was constructed throughout the late 1990s and 2000s directly inside the floodplain. Satellite photos show the area overwhelmed by floodwaters after the storm.</p>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">Other regions, like Cypress in northwest Harris County, or Willow and the Woodlands on the northern side of Houston, also show heavy development throughout the late 1990s and 2000s. Both areas experienced heavy flooding during the hurricane.</p>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-timelapse ">
    

      <div class="timelapse-wrapper   template-aside small gif " style="margin:0 auto; max-width:991px">
  
    <div class="subhed">Kingwood</div>
    <div class="year-label">1984</div>
  
  
  <div class="timelapse small gif" data-start="1984" data-end="2016" data-skip="" data-folder="houston-close/" data-suffix="">
    <!-- <div class="bar-wrapper"><div class="bar"></div></div> -->
    <div class="labels">
      <div class="year-label"></div>
      
      <div class="city-label">Kingwood</div>
    </div>
    <div class="overlays">
      
      
      
      
      
      
        <div id="houston-close-square" class="annotation square">
          <div class="legend-label">Major flooding</div>
          <div class="square small"></div>
        </div>
        <span class="label" id="houston-close">Floodplain</span>
        <div class="overlay">
          <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/houston-close/houston-eastern-floods-cb.png" width="100%"/>
        </div>
      
    </div>
    <div class="underlays">
      
        <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/houston-close/houston-close-gif.gif" />
      
    </div>
  </div>
  
    <div class="clearfix"></div>
  <div class="source">
    Sources: Beyond Floods and FEMA (floodplains); Google (satellite imagery)
  </div>
</div>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-timelapse ">
    

      <div class="timelapse-wrapper   template-aside small gif " style="margin:0 auto; max-width:991px">
  
    <div class="subhed">Cypress</div>
    <div class="year-label">1984</div>
  
  
  <div class="timelapse small gif" data-start="1984" data-end="2016" data-skip="" data-folder="houston-upper-west/" data-suffix="-sm">
    <!-- <div class="bar-wrapper"><div class="bar"></div></div> -->
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      <div class="city-label">Cypress</div>
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    <div class="overlays">
      
      
      
      
        <div id="houston-upper-west-square" class="annotation square">
          <div class="legend-label">Major flooding</div>
          <div class="square small"></div>
        </div>
        <span class="label" id="houston-upper-west">Floodplain</span>
        <div class="overlay">
          <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/houston-upper-west/houston-uw-flood-cb.png" width="100%"/>
        </div>
      
      
      
    </div>
    <div class="underlays">
      
        <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/houston-upper-west/houston-uw-gif.gif" />
      
    </div>
  </div>
  
    <div class="clearfix"></div>
  <div class="source">
    Sources: Beyond Floods and FEMA (floodplains); Google (satellite imagery)
  </div>
</div>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-timelapse ">
    

      <div class="timelapse-wrapper   template-aside small gif " style="margin:0 auto; max-width:991px">
  
    <div class="subhed">The Woodlands</div>
    <div class="year-label">1984</div>
  
  
  <div class="timelapse small gif" data-start="1984" data-end="2016" data-skip="" data-folder="houston-north/" data-suffix="-sm">
    <!-- <div class="bar-wrapper"><div class="bar"></div></div> -->
    <div class="labels">
      <div class="year-label"></div>
      
      <div class="city-label">The Woodlands</div>
    </div>
    <div class="overlays">
      
      
      
      
      
        <div id="houston-north-square" class="annotation square">
          <div class="legend-label">Major flooding</div>
          <div class="square small"></div>
        </div>
        <span class="label" id="houston-north">Floodplain</span>
        <div class="overlay">
          <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/houston-north/houston-north-floods-cb.png" width="100%"/>
        </div>
      
      
    </div>
    <div class="underlays">
      
        <img src="https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/08/28/opinion-flood-map/8a5bce9b10546ccc9385b3927c9646e8c27482ad/houston-north/houston-north-gif.gif" />
      
    </div>
  </div>
  
    <div class="clearfix"></div>
  <div class="source">
    Sources: Beyond Floods and FEMA (floodplains); Google (satellite imagery)
  </div>
</div>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">FEMA maps are updated infrequently because Congress has not appropriated enough money for the work. The maps do not take into account the future impact of climate change or the impact of likely real estate development in the area. In addition, FEMA has not created flood maps for the entire country, leaving some home buyers unaware of flooding risks, said Larry Larson, a senior policy advisor at the Association of State Floodplain Managers.</p>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">A more nuanced view of flood risk may be possible. Data by Syndeste and Beyond Floods considers factors like previous flood damage and land cover as part of a risk assessment, showing many properties in downtown Houston not in the floodplain are still at significant risk.</p>


    </div>

    

    
      <div class="g-item g-graphic ">
    

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		<div id="g-ai0-9" class="g-Layer_1 g-aiAbs g-aiPointText" style="top:59.8167%;margin-top:-11.3px;left:58.5566%;width:109px;">
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		<div id="g-ai0-11" class="g-Layer_1 g-aiAbs g-aiPointText" style="top:85.6861%;margin-top:-7.2px;left:56.0707%;width:64px;">
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			<p>Sources: FEMA (floodplains); Beyond Floods (flood outlook)</p>
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			<p>Sources: FEMA (floodplains); Beyond Floods (flood outlook)</p>
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      <h2>Damage for Many, Insurance for Few</h2>


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      <div class="g-item g-text ">
    

      <p class="g-body">Right now, more troubling is how ill-prepared even those in the current floodplain are to deal with Harvey’s aftermath. The<a href="https://medium.com/living-beyond-floods/71-properties-uninsured-in-areas-impacted-by-hurricane-harvey-f70f91ab0323"> </a><a href="https://medium.com/living-beyond-floods/71-properties-uninsured-in-areas-impacted-by-hurricane-harvey-f70f91ab0323">vast majority</a> of residents across the 30-county region struck hardest by hurricane Harvey also did not have insurance, according to<a href="https://www.beyondfloods.com/"> </a><a href="https://www.beyondfloods.com/">Beyond Floods</a>, a company that tracks and analyzes flood data.</p>


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      <p class="g-body">While federal flood insurance will help some whose homes have been ruined, only<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/business/dealbook/flood-insurance-harvey.html?mcubz=3&_r=0"> </a><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/business/dealbook/flood-insurance-harvey.html?mcubz=3&_r=0">about 15 percent of homes</a> in Harris County had policies under the flood insurance program, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Some choose not to buy policies because of the cost, and they are not eligible for subsidies.</p>


    </div>

    

  

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