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In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey flooded the homes of over 100,000 residents in the Houston, Texas area. Government buyouts are becoming more prevalent in the rebuilding of Houston. Currently, buyouts are only for residential properties but may be expanded to commercial property as well. Although questions are still being answered as to what will become of the land acquired through the government buyouts, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) has explained how floodplain buyouts are cost-effective in mitigating flood risks.
Harris County has placed into action a new movement to demolish any houses acquired from the buyouts that have repeatedly flooded. These demolished areas are at times being turned into public spaces. Furthermore, the county government has started a program to help relocate these homeowners, by finding new homes and helping them move in.