Today, Comcast contractors occupied both sides of the street in front of my house. This blocked traffic, forcing motorists to drive onto my lawn and my neighbor’s lawn to get around them.
There were no traffic control signs. No warnings. No flag men. No supervisors. No one directing traffic. In fact, no one from the entire crew even seemed to be around … until I started taking pictures. Then I was swarmed.
Pictures of Incident Occurring around 11AM Today
Here’s what I found at the end of my driveway.
No room to park. No problem. New York chutzpah comes to Houston.
As we teach kids in driver’s ed, this is called “driving on the wrong side of the road.”
Police give tickets for it. It illustrates a cavalier attitude toward public safety. Not to mention contempt for the people Comcast hopes will someday buy its services.
But I guess Comcast doesn’t care. They had no supervisors onsite. If you don’t see it, you don’t have to report it.
The trailer contained pipe for the hydro-excavation truck in the background.Opposite angle shows a second hydro-excavation truck. Noise from these trucks reached 96 decibels.Exposure to that level for more than 30 minutes is considered dangerous and can cause hearing loss.When I asked the lady in this car not to drive on my lawn, she turned around. But other drivers just zoomed around me in frustration without stopping.
In fairness, when I told the Comcast contractors to move their trucks, they did. But it’s sad that I should have had to tell them. They had no name badges, no ID and offered no apology.
Had I not questioned the employees, I never would have known from the logos on their trucks that they were affiliated with Comcast.
City Still Says It has Received No Comcast Complaints
Ironically, while I was downloading the images from my Nikon, I got an email from Jessica Beemer, Dave Martin’s Chief of Staff, saying yet again that the City had received NO COMPLAINTS re: Comcast. I responded, “Let me be the first then.”
Our only warning that Team Comcast would be in the neighborhood was a door hanger delivered months ago. Those warnings are supposed to be within 72 hours.
Attention Comcast Shareholders
But in this case, Comcast was a loser, too. My neighbor was hosting a luncheon today for 25 people. Oops. Why alienate one potential customer when you can alienate 25 at once?
The neighbor and I haven’t been able to see if someone broke our irrigation systems yet because we’re still under a no watering ban due to the drought. But if they did break them, I think I’ll get angry.
Seriously though, what’s a sprinkler head and some ruts in your lawn compared to some of the horror stories I’ve heard. I talked to several people in Bear Branch with more than a quarter million dollars worth of sewer damage to their homes.
Another lady had her electricity cut. The resulting power surge knocked out a new heating/ac system, a computer, and a double oven. It also fried the circuits in her home.
The Comcast contractor said not to file a claim, that they would pay for it. A month later, they changed their minds and told her to file a claim with her own insurance company. Her insurance company asked, “Why did you wait a month?” Her insurance company also said it could take 1-2 years to work this out. Meanwhile, she’s paying CenterPoint $500 per month to run a temporary electric line to her house.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/3/2023
2257 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image011.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2023-11-03 19:29:392023-11-03 19:45:45Comcast Contractors Force Traffic Across Residents’ Lawns
Since posting about the threat to public safety posed by the Comcast installation in Kingwood, I have received feedback from dozens of damaged residents and their HOAs. However, the people responsible for safety at Comcast don’t seem to be hearing about all of the damages. Or if they hear, they won’t admit it.
Example: Despite my verifying a gas-line break onsite with FIVE independent sources (the homeowner, CenterPoint, HFD, Aspen and Hydroz), a VP at Comcast in another city insisted the line wasn’t broken; that it was just a near miss. Why? Some possibilities.
Comcast’s subcontractors sometimes encourage residents not to report damage.
Employees rarely like to report bad news to their employers; it makes them look bad. Ditto for subcontractors. When it comes to protecting your job security, unreported damage and safety issues are as good as not having accidents in the first place.
Alternatively, residents may not know where to report damage. Many residents claim Comcast and Aspen did not give them that information.
Regardless, it’s clear (to me at least) that Comcast’s damage-reporting system isn’t working. To eliminate the possibilities above, let me try to explain where and how to report damage.
Proper Channels For Reporting Damage/Problems
Here is what I have pieced together through talks with the City of Houston, Comcast and Aspen leaders.
District E represents Kingwood. The City prefers email because it’s easier to search, track and forward. In an emergency, however, you can call 832-393-3008.
Step 3: Contact Relevant Supervisors:
Comcast
Jared Daughrity Comcast Manager of Construction for Houston 8590 West Tidwell Road, Houston, TX 77040 Jared_Daughrity@comcast.com Cell 707-758-6614
Aspen Vice President Governmental Affairs: Ernest W Spicer Jr. The Aspen Utility Company 10000 Richmond Ave | Suite 300 Houston, TX 77042 ernests@theaspencompany.com Mobile: 281-744-1152
Comcast and Aspen use many subcontractors, especially for hydro-excavation. If one damages your property, get as much information from them as possible. Take pictures. Make sure you get photos of the trucks, their license plates and the operators.
But, if they tell you not to report the damage and that they will handle the repairs, report the problem anyway. Especially in that case. Someone’s likely trying to conceal damage from the City or supervisors. Many people have not reported problems and regretted it.
In such instances, I have heard reports of shoddy repairs by unqualified, unlicensed people without the proper permits. The companies involved may be trying to save money, bypass city inspections, or make their safety records look better.
Contact Numbers for Other Utilities Impacted by Comcast
If Comcast/Aspen cuts into one of your utility lines:
For cable tv/internet, call:
Comcast: 1-800-934-6489
AT&T Uverse 1-800-288-2020
Suddenlink 1-877-794-2724
EnTouch/Astound 1-888-765-6461
Tachus 1-832-791-1100
For gas or electric:
To report a suspected natural gas leak, immediately leave your home, go to a safe location and call 911 and then CenterPoint’s natural gas Leak Emergency Hotline: 713-659-2111 or 888-876-5786.
For electric-line cuts: Call 911 and report to CenterPoint Energy immediately at 800-332-7143.
Administration and Regulatory Affairs City of Houston Department of Utility Regulation 611 Walker, Houston TX 77002 832-393-8591 UtilityComplaints@houstontx.gov
The safest bet? Call your insurance agent before Aspen and its subs start digging near you. Find out what your exposure is.
Homeowner insurance won’t necessarily cover damage caused by a negligent party. Unless you have an endorsement for your lawn or landscaping, your insurance company will likely only reimburse you for damage caused during covered peril events. Covered perils are listed in your policy (for example, fire).
So, the only compensation you get may be from the people who caused the damage.
For purposes of determining fair compensation, keep in mind that the property should be restored to the principle of indemnity. That’s the way it was immediately before the damage occurred, not necessarily like new. With that in mind…
Take Plenty of “Before and After” Photos
Many residents say that Comcast and their subs are denying claims based on alleged “pre-existing” damages. Or they may just say, “It’s just not our fault.” So remember to take plenty of before and after photos in case you decide to press your claim through the courts.
Good luck. None of the companies or government entities involved monitor social media. So, to make sure you are being treated fairly, start with the channels they set up. Vent later if you can’t get satisfaction.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/2/2023
2256 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231027-RJR_2971.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2023-11-02 14:44:592023-11-06 07:23:26Where, How to Report Comcast Damage
During the month of October 2023, Sprint Sand & Clay excavated another 5,754 cubic yards (CY) of dirt from a new stormwater detention basin on Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) Woodridge Village property. Compare that to 5,698 cubic yards in September. The new “total to date” is now 156,478 cubic yards. October’s 5,754 CY exceeds Sprint’s monthly minimum of 5,000 CY.
Perry Homes cleared and graded the property for development beginning in 2017. But insufficient stormwater detention capacity contributed to the flooding of Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest Villages twice in 2019. HCFCD bought the property from Perry in 2021.
Terms of Excavation and Removal Contract
Sprint began excavation in January of 2022 under an Excavation and Removal Contract (E&R). Their E&R contract gives Sprint the right to remove up to 500,000 cubic yards of material for just $1,000. Sprint then makes its money back by selling the dirt at market rates.
E&R contracts often fluctuate depending on home- and road-building activity nearby. They represent good value for taxpayers because they reduce costs. But they also involve some uncertainty in terms of completion dates.
Where Things Stand at End of October
To date, here’s where things stand in relation to possible goals:
Acre Feetof Stormwater Detention
% of Atlas-14 Requirement
% of Ultimate
Site Had When Purchased from Perry Homes
271
70%
47%
Has as of 11/1/23
368
95.6%
63.4%
Atlas 14 Requires
385
100%
66%
If Sprint Excavates All 500K Cubic Yards…
580
150%
100%
As of 11/1/23
Rain always slows construction activity and it may have played a role during October.
Pictures of Progress
Here are some before/after pictures (in pairs). They show the progress of construction during October.
End of September 2023End of October 2023
It appears that most of the excavation occurred at the far end. These three shots show the progress made in that area.
End of September 2023
End of October 2023, looking NE
End of October 2023 looking SE
Looking back toward the entrance off Woodland Hills…
End of September 2023End of October 2023
How Much Will Be Enough?
HCFCD still has not released the final engineering report for this project. So, we do not know exactly what shape this detention basin will take or what the final volume will be. Regardless, it’s more protection than we had before. And when finished, it will reduce flood risk considerably.
The current rate of excavation when measured in acre feet is about 3.6 per month. That means Sprint would reach the volume required to meet Atlas 14 requirements in about 5 months – the end of the first quarter in 2024. It’s unclear at this time how much HCFCD will have Sprint go beyond that.
NOAA is already working on Atlas 15. Atlas 15 will incorporate the effects of climate change in the national precipitation frequency standards for the first time. NOAA expects estimates to increase. So the size of this detention basin could, too.
Atlas 15 will be the first national precipitation frequency analysis accounting for climate change.
NOAA expects to release the new data for peer review in 2025 and the final study in 2026. After that, NOAA will update the precipitation frequency estimates no less than once every ten years.
There is no such thing as certainty when predicting the future. The good news? There’s plenty of room on this site to expand stormwater detention volume in the future.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/1/2023
2255 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 1505 since TS Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231029-DJI_0721.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2023-11-01 06:03:172023-11-26 12:21:23Woodridge Village Excavation Rate Increased Slightly in October
Comcast Contractors Force Traffic Across Residents’ Lawns
Today, Comcast contractors occupied both sides of the street in front of my house. This blocked traffic, forcing motorists to drive onto my lawn and my neighbor’s lawn to get around them.
There were no traffic control signs. No warnings. No flag men. No supervisors. No one directing traffic. In fact, no one from the entire crew even seemed to be around … until I started taking pictures. Then I was swarmed.
Pictures of Incident Occurring around 11AM Today
Here’s what I found at the end of my driveway.
As we teach kids in driver’s ed, this is called “driving on the wrong side of the road.”
Police give tickets for it. It illustrates a cavalier attitude toward public safety. Not to mention contempt for the people Comcast hopes will someday buy its services.
But I guess Comcast doesn’t care. They had no supervisors onsite. If you don’t see it, you don’t have to report it.
In fairness, when I told the Comcast contractors to move their trucks, they did. But it’s sad that I should have had to tell them. They had no name badges, no ID and offered no apology.
Had I not questioned the employees, I never would have known from the logos on their trucks that they were affiliated with Comcast.
City Still Says It has Received No Comcast Complaints
Ironically, while I was downloading the images from my Nikon, I got an email from Jessica Beemer, Dave Martin’s Chief of Staff, saying yet again that the City had received NO COMPLAINTS re: Comcast. I responded, “Let me be the first then.”
Please follow these procedures if you see concerning behavior or experience damage from Comcast. The house you save could be your own. I reported this incident to multiple people in multiple places: the City, Comcast, Aspen, and Aspen’s parent Company.
No Warning Within 72-Hours
Our only warning that Team Comcast would be in the neighborhood was a door hanger delivered months ago. Those warnings are supposed to be within 72 hours.
Attention Comcast Shareholders
But in this case, Comcast was a loser, too. My neighbor was hosting a luncheon today for 25 people. Oops. Why alienate one potential customer when you can alienate 25 at once?
The neighbor and I haven’t been able to see if someone broke our irrigation systems yet because we’re still under a no watering ban due to the drought. But if they did break them, I think I’ll get angry.
Seriously though, what’s a sprinkler head and some ruts in your lawn compared to some of the horror stories I’ve heard. I talked to several people in Bear Branch with more than a quarter million dollars worth of sewer damage to their homes.
Another lady had her electricity cut. The resulting power surge knocked out a new heating/ac system, a computer, and a double oven. It also fried the circuits in her home.
The Comcast contractor said not to file a claim, that they would pay for it. A month later, they changed their minds and told her to file a claim with her own insurance company. Her insurance company asked, “Why did you wait a month?” Her insurance company also said it could take 1-2 years to work this out. Meanwhile, she’s paying CenterPoint $500 per month to run a temporary electric line to her house.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/3/2023
2257 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
Where, How to Report Comcast Damage
Since posting about the threat to public safety posed by the Comcast installation in Kingwood, I have received feedback from dozens of damaged residents and their HOAs. However, the people responsible for safety at Comcast don’t seem to be hearing about all of the damages. Or if they hear, they won’t admit it.
Example: Despite my verifying a gas-line break onsite with FIVE independent sources (the homeowner, CenterPoint, HFD, Aspen and Hydroz), a VP at Comcast in another city insisted the line wasn’t broken; that it was just a near miss. Why? Some possibilities.
Regardless, it’s clear (to me at least) that Comcast’s damage-reporting system isn’t working. To eliminate the possibilities above, let me try to explain where and how to report damage.
Proper Channels For Reporting Damage/Problems
Here is what I have pieced together through talks with the City of Houston, Comcast and Aspen leaders.
Step 1: Email Aspen at:
Aspen_damages_kingwood@theaspencompany.com for Damages.
Xfinityinfokingwood@theaspencompany.com for other Concerns.
Or call 281-578-1000.
The companies claim you should get a response within two days, but I have talked to many people who have fallen into black holes. So also…
Step 2: Simultaneously Email the City of Houston District E Office at:
DistrictE@houstontx.gov.
District E represents Kingwood. The City prefers email because it’s easier to search, track and forward.
In an emergency, however, you can call 832-393-3008.
Step 3: Contact Relevant Supervisors:
Comcast
Jared Daughrity
Comcast Manager of Construction for Houston
8590 West Tidwell Road, Houston, TX 77040
Jared_Daughrity@comcast.com
Cell 707-758-6614
Aspen
Vice President Governmental Affairs:
Ernest W Spicer Jr.
The Aspen Utility Company
10000 Richmond Ave | Suite 300
Houston, TX 77042
ernests@theaspencompany.com
Mobile: 281-744-1152
Safety and Claims Manager:
Janice Ham
janiceh@theaspencompany.com
Cell # 346-257-7240
Director of Safety:
Simon Anguiano
simona@theaspencompany.com
Cell # 832-612-8189
Aspen’s Corporate Parent: Quanta Services
Project Director – Greg Loop
greg.loop@quantatelcom.com
Cell # (346) 857-7457
Construction Manager – William Brillhart
william.brillhart@quantaservices.com
Cell # (346) 254-3314
Shuffled Off to a Subcontractor?
Comcast and Aspen use many subcontractors, especially for hydro-excavation. If one damages your property, get as much information from them as possible. Take pictures. Make sure you get photos of the trucks, their license plates and the operators.
But, if they tell you not to report the damage and that they will handle the repairs, report the problem anyway. Especially in that case. Someone’s likely trying to conceal damage from the City or supervisors. Many people have not reported problems and regretted it.
In such instances, I have heard reports of shoddy repairs by unqualified, unlicensed people without the proper permits. The companies involved may be trying to save money, bypass city inspections, or make their safety records look better.
Contact Numbers for Other Utilities Impacted by Comcast
If Comcast/Aspen cuts into one of your utility lines:
For cable tv/internet, call:
For gas or electric:
For more information visit CenterPoint’s “Reporting Page.”
Getting No Response or the Runaround?
If all else fails, contact:
Administration and Regulatory Affairs
City of Houston Department of Utility Regulation
611 Walker, Houston TX 77002
832-393-8591
UtilityComplaints@houstontx.gov
Better Business Bureau
https://www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint
Federal Communications Commission
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/filing-informal-complaint
1-888-225 5322.
A Word About Insurance
The safest bet? Call your insurance agent before Aspen and its subs start digging near you. Find out what your exposure is.
Homeowner insurance won’t necessarily cover damage caused by a negligent party. Unless you have an endorsement for your lawn or landscaping, your insurance company will likely only reimburse you for damage caused during covered peril events. Covered perils are listed in your policy (for example, fire).
So, the only compensation you get may be from the people who caused the damage.
For purposes of determining fair compensation, keep in mind that the property should be restored to the principle of indemnity. That’s the way it was immediately before the damage occurred, not necessarily like new. With that in mind…
Take Plenty of “Before and After” Photos
Many residents say that Comcast and their subs are denying claims based on alleged “pre-existing” damages. Or they may just say, “It’s just not our fault.” So remember to take plenty of before and after photos in case you decide to press your claim through the courts.
Good luck. None of the companies or government entities involved monitor social media. So, to make sure you are being treated fairly, start with the channels they set up. Vent later if you can’t get satisfaction.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/2/2023
2256 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
Woodridge Village Excavation Rate Increased Slightly in October
During the month of October 2023, Sprint Sand & Clay excavated another 5,754 cubic yards (CY) of dirt from a new stormwater detention basin on Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) Woodridge Village property. Compare that to 5,698 cubic yards in September. The new “total to date” is now 156,478 cubic yards. October’s 5,754 CY exceeds Sprint’s monthly minimum of 5,000 CY.
Perry Homes cleared and graded the property for development beginning in 2017. But insufficient stormwater detention capacity contributed to the flooding of Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest Villages twice in 2019. HCFCD bought the property from Perry in 2021.
Terms of Excavation and Removal Contract
Sprint began excavation in January of 2022 under an Excavation and Removal Contract (E&R). Their E&R contract gives Sprint the right to remove up to 500,000 cubic yards of material for just $1,000. Sprint then makes its money back by selling the dirt at market rates.
E&R contracts often fluctuate depending on home- and road-building activity nearby. They represent good value for taxpayers because they reduce costs. But they also involve some uncertainty in terms of completion dates.
Where Things Stand at End of October
To date, here’s where things stand in relation to possible goals:
Rain always slows construction activity and it may have played a role during October.
Pictures of Progress
Here are some before/after pictures (in pairs). They show the progress of construction during October.
It appears that most of the excavation occurred at the far end. These three shots show the progress made in that area.
End of October 2023, looking NE
Looking back toward the entrance off Woodland Hills…
How Much Will Be Enough?
HCFCD still has not released the final engineering report for this project. So, we do not know exactly what shape this detention basin will take or what the final volume will be. Regardless, it’s more protection than we had before. And when finished, it will reduce flood risk considerably.
The current rate of excavation when measured in acre feet is about 3.6 per month. That means Sprint would reach the volume required to meet Atlas 14 requirements in about 5 months – the end of the first quarter in 2024. It’s unclear at this time how much HCFCD will have Sprint go beyond that.
NOAA is already working on Atlas 15. Atlas 15 will incorporate the effects of climate change in the national precipitation frequency standards for the first time. NOAA expects estimates to increase. So the size of this detention basin could, too.
analysis accounting for climate change.
NOAA expects to release the new data for peer review in 2025 and the final study in 2026. After that, NOAA will update the precipitation frequency estimates no less than once every ten years.
There is no such thing as certainty when predicting the future. The good news? There’s plenty of room on this site to expand stormwater detention volume in the future.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/1/2023
2255 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 1505 since TS Imelda