Hurricanes and flooding has had an effect on building codes in Florida.  There was also at least some effect in New Orleans after Katrina.  It's too early to say what will happen in Houston, but there is a stubborn streak in the culture of the state.  Three straight years of flooding in Houston should be some sort of wake up call, but they will probably still keep the no zoning regulations mentality and the state government has been working to prevent holding anyone to account after these sorts of calamities.  The good news for them is it sounds like they can blame the Army Corps of Engineers for part of their troubles since there are a couple of dams in the hands of the corps that overflowed.