Stricter building rules, rejected by Trump, helped Harvey-hit communities

FILE PHOTO: Men look for people wanting to be evacuated from the Hurricane Harvey floodwaters in Dickinson, Texas, U.S., August 28, 2017. REUTERS/Rick Wilking/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As Hurricane Harvey pummelled the Gulf coast in Texas, the city of Seabrook had an edge over flood-swamped nearby towns and the devastation in Houston, just a half-hour drive away.

Years ago, the city imposed higher elevation standards for buildings that were stricter than existing federal guidelines on construction in flood-prone areas. Before leaving office, President Barack Obama sought to toughen those national rules, to bring them more in line with those in communities like Seabrook. President Donald Trump, however, revoked Obama's executive order last month.