The Night that 11,000 Lake Houston Area People Became Homeless

Eighteen months ago, approximately 11,000 Kingwood, Humble and Atascocita residents went to bed thinking they had escaped the worst of Harvey’s wrath. Hours later, they woke up to find water seeping through their windows, doors and walls in the dark of night. Without any warning. Thanks in part to the release of 80,000 cfs from the Lake Conroe dam.

The Harris County Flood Control Damage Map shows that on the West Fork:

3652 Homes were damaged in Kingwood
366 in Atascocita
466 in Humble
Total: 4184 homes flooded in this area partly because of the release of 80,000 cfs from the Lake Conroe dam.

With an average household density of 2.71, that means roughly 11,000 people became homeless that night.

Ironically, Thursday, February 28, the San Jacinto River Authority will vote on whether to continue lowering the level of Lake Conroe seasonally. The measure was designed to help reduce downstream flood risk until mitigation measures can be put in place.

However, rumor has it that one or more members of the board want to present a petition by Lake Conroe boaters to NOT lower the lake level this year. To everyone who signed that petition, I dedicate this photo essay.

Water Sculptures by Julie Yandell. Taken during Harvey. — *Water Sculptures by Julie Yandell. Taken during evacuation. Yard decorations take on an ominous feeling in the flood.*

Woodland Hills Drive During Harvey by Julie Yandell — *The flood cut off Woodland Hills Drive, a major escape route for people in Kingwood Lakes, the Barrington and Kings Cove.*

*Trash Day in the Barrington after Harvey. Photo by Joy Dominique.*

*Siding from home washed downstream during Harvey. Photo by Dan Monks.*

*Water skiing, anyone? Photo by Sidney Nice of Atascocita Point after Harvey.*

Sidney Nice's kitchen after Harvey flooded the house to a depth of 63". — *Sidney Nice’s kitchen after Harvey flooded the house to a depth of 63″.*

Sidney Nice's house in Atascocita Point during Harvey. — *Sidney Nice’s house in Atascocita Point during Harvey.*

Her home flooded 40 inches above the slab. — *Rebecca Johansen’s front door shows how deep flood waters got in her home … 40 inches.*

*Townhomes on Marina Drive in Forest Cove. Concrete and steel were less effective at preventing erosion than blades of grass.*

Residents trying to escape as Harvey's floodwaters rose — Elderly residents of Kingwood Village Estates trying to escape as Harvey’s floodwaters rose. Twelve residents later died: six as a result of injuries sustained during evacuation and another rise as a result of stress from losing their homes.

*Marilyn Davenport: Home Damaged During Harvey*

From Ann Crane: "We had over 70 people helping to clear and clean our house. The Kingwood community coming together." — *From Ann Crane: “We had over 70 people helping to clear and clean our house. The Kingwood community coming together.”*

Jennifer Manning: "What 18 inches of floodwater can do to your home." From Walden on Lake Houston. — *Jennifer Manning: “What 18 inches of floodwater can do to your home.” From Walden on Lake Houston.*

Jennifer Manning: "We lived in Kingwood from 1992-2012 before buying a house in Walden that was 'built above the '94 flood.' We finished our rehab in June." Ten months! — *Jennifer Manning: “We lived in Kingwood from 1992-2012 before buying a house in Walden that was ‘built above the ’94 flood.’ We finished our rehab in June.” Ten months!*

*The Kelsey Seybold Clinic has also been vacant since Harvey. 44% of all businesses in the Lake Houston Area Chamber were damaged. Some will never return.*

Picture by June Ledet of Harvey flooding in Kingwood corner of Kingwood Drive and Forest Garden — *Picture by June Ledet of Harvey flooding in Kingwood. Corner of Kingwood Drive and Forest Garden. Flooding here cut off escape routes for thousands more.*

Classroom building at Lone Star College/Kingwood flooded during Harvey after SJRA release. Six of nine buildings flooded causing more than $60 million in damage. The College just fully reopened this month.

Milan saunders — *Milan Saunders home in Kingwood Lakes*

*That’s all, folks! Harvey flipped the baby grand piano and broke to legs off the heirloom.*

*Repairs to IH-69 took about 10 months and $20 million, disrupting all traffic into and out of the City for hours each day.*

*The mother of all walk in closets…Amy Slaughter’s garage.*

*Home of a single mother who had just lost her job.*

*When sewage treatment plants flooded, toilets began flowing in reverse.*

So please, Lake Conroe boaters. Let’s keep this in perspective. We understand your inconvenience. Please try to understand ours. Help us recover our lives.

To see more examples of how Harvey affected the lives of Lake Houston Area residents, please see the Submissions Page of this web site. It contains images submitted by residents affected by Harvey. If you have images you would like to share, please send them in via the Submissions Page.

Posted by Bob Rehak on February 28, 2019

548 Days since Hurricane Harvey

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