Time-lapse, security-camera footage supplied by Jeff Miller, an Elm Grove resident, shows dramatically how quickly Imelda piled up in the streets of Elm Grove. This video covers from 8 a.m to 11 a.m. – compressed into twenty seconds. Note how the water starts out clear. Then, at 10:10 a.m., it turns muddy brown, starts swirling, and quickly fills up the street, his driveway, and some neighbor’s homes across the street.
The Instant the Water Changed Color
This video clearly shows a sudden influx of water from somewhere other than the sky. It fixes the time at which Woodridge Village’s S2 detention pond overflowed into the streets of Elm Grove. Miller lives one block south and three blocks west of S2. That means the water probably overtopped the banks of S2 around 10 a.m., allowing about 10 minutes for travel time.
At 10:54 that morning, Nancy Vera who lives immediately south of the Woodridge Village S2 detention pond and whose house backs up to Taylor Gully, says that:
She had a foot of muddy water in her house
Her back yard was dry
Taylor Gully was still within its banks.
About this time, Allyssa Harris was shooting video of water streaming directly out of Woodridge Forest and streaming down Village Springs.
Video courtesy of Allyssa Harris. Shot from north end of Village Springs in Elm Grove looking north at the S2 detention pond in Woodridge Village overflowing.
Perry Homes Et. Al. Drag Own Reputations Through Mud
Perry Homes, its subsidiaries and contractors dragged their own reputations through the mud. They have been stonewalling discovery in the case against them by more than 200 plaintiffs. In fact, they have sued the plaintiffs.
The District Clerks office does not show that Judge Lauren Reeder has yet ruled on the motion to compel discovery brought by hundreds of plaintiffs in lawsuits filed by Spurlock and Webster.
Harris County Attorney Now Authorized to File Suit Against Bad Actors
I think they just sent a shot over the bow of Perry Homes. Call the County Attorney tomorrow or send him links to related posts on this site.
These are my thoughts on matters of public opinion and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP statute of the great State of Texas.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/25/2019 with video from Jeff Miller and Allyssa Harris
757 Days since Hurricane Harvey and six days since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Security-Video-1.jpg?fit=1500%2C1013&ssl=110131500adminadmin2019-09-24 23:05:042019-09-25 15:14:08Time-Lapse Footage of Elm Grove Flood: Three Hours Boiled Down to 20 Seconds
Correction: The head of Enforcement for the TCEQ notified me that there was a “proposed” fine of $16,875 issued to the Triple-P Mine for the May breach, but that they have not “settled” yet.
The East Fork of the San Jacinto River and the Triple-P sand mine took a terrible toll on Kingwood’s East End Park for the second time in two years during Imelda. Sand several feet thick blanketed about 30 acres of this beautiful ecological gem and the peaceful trails that wind through it. The devastation matched and in some cases surpassed Harvey’s. These pictures tell the story. After Harvey, it took hundreds of thousands of dollars to restore the trails and boardwalks in the park. It will cost at least that much again.
Carried Away
This bench on the Pelican Overlook Trail used to have about 50 feet of trail, trees and river bank in front of it. Imelda eroded the bank and the river cut away the land under the trail. The trail will now have to be moved inland. It no longer exists.
Blanketed by Sand
This boardwalk to Eagle Point used to go over pristine wetlands. It will now require excavation.Photo courtesy of John Knoezer.
Scoured by Flood Waters
Trail scouring occurred in many places. Large parts of the North Loop trail will require replacement.Photo courtesy of John Knoezer.
Taking Destruction to New Levels
This sign used to be chest high. Now it’s knee high.Photo courtesy of John Knoezer.
Giant Trees Uprooted
Trees are down in multiple places and block the main boardwalk. Photo courtesy of John Knoezer.
Covered Up
The main boardwalk is covered with a layer of ultra-slippery silt 1-2 inches thick. Photo courtesy of John Knoezer.
Under Water
In many places, trails have gone underwater.At this location, we found quicksand. See below.
Quick Sand
Rika, the safety pup, says, “Hmmmm. Lucky I don’t have to buy shoes.”
For your own safety and the safety of your shoes, do not venture into the park near the river. It’s dangerous as you can see. Quicksand even exists in some places.
Now for The Bad News
Much of this sand may have come from the Triple-P sand mine on Caney Creek, just upstream from East End Park.
Image courtesy of Charlie Fahrmeier, an expert in turbidity control. Photo taken on 9/22/2019.Image of same breach on May 17th.Location of Breach
Once again the mine breached its dike, underscoring the danger of locating mines in floodways. This particular mine sits at the confluence of two floodways: Caney Creek and White Oak Creek. During Harvey, it lost a major portion of its stockpile to floodwaters. Then it happened again.
It appears that Triple P dumped some sand in the breach in a feeble attempt to stop the hemorrhage. But it obviously did not hold for long. Fahrmeier, who discovered this latest breach on his Waverunner, is an expert in turbidity and environmental pollution control. He said that sand is the wrong type of material for repairing dikes and that the repeat blowout was predictable.
Fahrmeier said that as he was coming up Caney Creek, the stream of sediment coming from the mine made it look as though there were two different streams. “There’s still quite a bit of sediment flowing into the river as evidenced by the discoloration. The pit is pretty large and no doubt contributed a significant volume of water and sediment flowing into Lake Houston since last week.”
KSA Repairs
KSA will begin initiating repairs on East End Park quickly. But many parts of the park are still not accessible. It may be months before all this damage can be repaired. In the meantime, please limit use of the park to the higher parts unaffected by Imelda and Triple P. No doubt some of this sand comes from river bed and bank erosion. But I believe a lot came from the mine, too. I hope KSA decides to sue the mine this time. It’s clear that they do not fear the TCEQ.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/23/2019 with images from John Knoezer and Charlier Fahrmeier
756 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 5 since Imelda
The thoughts expressed in this post represent my opinions on matters of public policy 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/2019/09/Overlook-Washout.jpg?fit=1500%2C2000&ssl=120001500adminadmin2019-09-23 21:00:282019-09-25 14:53:10Triple-P Sand Mine Breached Again; East End Park Destroyed for Second Time in Two Years
In the world of process quality-control, a consulting company named Kepner-Tregoe built a reputation for itself with a simple methodology. The foundation? When a problem appears, look for something different you did. Chances are, you’ll find the cause there.
Applying that same methodology to Elm Grove, an area that never flooded before May 7th, but which has flooded twice since then, one would have to look at the clearcut area immediately to the north, home of a new development called Woodridge Village.
Shortly after Perry Homes, its subsidiaries and contractors clearcut approximately 268 acres the problems started. But that wasn’t all the Perry gang did.
Before Harvey
They also filled in all the natural streams and wetlands that wound through the dense forest, slowing down runoff. Here’s what the area looked like before Harvey.
This is where the wetlands were (past tense).
Source: USGS. According to the Army Corps of Engineers, no one requested a jurisdictional delineation for the wetlands on this site. Normally, engineering companies request such a ruling to see if the Corps will object to the loss of valuable wetlands.So this project could have required a Corps permit that the developer never obtained.
After Clearcutting
Here’s what the same area looks like today from a helicopter facing south.
Shot taken on 9/21/19 two days after Imelda. Land slopes generally from NW to SE, funneling toward Taylor Gully at the tip of the arrow. Note the ponding water on the northwest side of the dirt pile near the base of the arrow.Depending on where rain falls within this area, it could take a different path, but the destination remains the same – Taylor Gully.
The LJA engineer who authored the Woodridge hydrology report characterized the slope on the northern section as 1% or greater. That’s confirmed by this contour map. And that slope is enough to make water move.
Kepner-Tregoe aside, just because something happened after something else does not automatically mean that A caused B. In logic, that assumption is called the Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy. (Latin for “after this, therefore because of this.”)
Even though the Kepner-Tregoe methodology strongly suggests a linkage, do we have more direct proof that runoff from this subdivision caused the Elm Grove/North Kingwood Forest Flood on 9/19/19? Yes.
Clue #1
Well, for one thing, 75% of the detention pond capacity was supposed to be installed on that steep northern section, which is twice as big as the souther section. But none was. Or at least, none of it was fully functional.
Here’s where LJA intended it to go. It virtually ringed the western, southern and eastern sides.
This illustration shows that234 acre feet of detention capacity should have been built on the northern section. But before Imelda, only 75.7 acre feet were actually built, all on the southern section. Less than 25% of the detention was fully functional when Imelda hit.
Out of the promised 309 acre feet of detention, only 75 acre feet actually existed before Imelda, about 25% of the eventual total. All of that was on the southern section. Despite the fact that the northern section contained far more land.
N1 detention in NW corner missing.Looking SW.N2 Detention only partially available in SW corner. Montgomery County excavated this to a depth of approximately three feet between 2006-2008.But it needs to go much deeper to reach its detention goal.Looking West.Where the top part of the missing N3 detention pond should beon the NE corner.Looking SE.Where the bottom part of the missing N3 should be. A shallow trench channeled water toward Taylor Gully (out of frame in the upper right), without the benefit of any detention on the northern section to slow it down.Also looking SE.
Clue #2
When all that water reached the tree line that separates Elm Grove from Woodless Village (sic), it pushed the silt fence over. Notice the giant chunks of wood slammed up against the fence.
Silt fence that separates Woodridge Village from Elm Grovenow leans toward Elm Grove.The same thing happened on the border with Taylor Gully. When the rainfall exceeded the capacity of the detention pond, water came up out of it and pushed the silt fence near the culvert outward.The same thing happened with the silt fence that borders North Kingwood Forest to the East. It leans toward the damaged area.
Water pushed the silt fence outward in all directions, like an exploding water balloon. This indicates the S2 pond exceeded its capacity.
Clue 3
If all this inferential evidence isn’t enough, we have direct evidence – video shot by Allyssa Harris during the flood. It shows water streaming out of the development in the background, directly into the streets of Elm Grove.
What it looked like from the Elm Grove side of the silt fence during the storm. Video courtesy of Allyssa Harris. Video looks north toward S2 detention pond from Village Springs.
This is what happened to the 75% of the runoff that the two southern detention ponds could not hold.
Clue #4
When the flood subsided, there was muck in streets, driveways, yards and homes. This was not just rainwater; it was runoff from 268 clearcut acres.
Abel Vera had to grab his car to avoid slipping in ankle-deep sediment on Village Springs. What Village Springs looked like the day after Imelda.
Clue 5
According to the USGS gage at US59, a foot of rain fell on this 268 clearcut area on 9/19. All of it had to squeeze through the two tiny box culverts circled in the lower right. It was like aiming firehoses into a kitchen sink.Note: it’s worse than it looks. Additional acreage exists out of frame on left and right.
Likely Path of Water
As in May, water that should have been detained elsewhere rushed to S2. S2 overflowed and added to already heavy rainfall.
It rushed to the SE corner of Woodridge, couldn’t get through the culvert, backed up, and sought ways around – via the streets of Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest.
Likely path of water in May and September floods. Background image is from February, before S2 pond was completed.
What Should Happen Next?
In my opinion, for all the reasons listed above, as a result of clearcutting all this land without installing required detention, hundreds of families flooded for a second time in four months. Worse, the threat remains.
Perry, its subsidiaries and contractors had ideal construction weather during that time yet construction activity ground to a half almost a month ago.
That exposed hundreds of people to needless flood risk. Again. Worse, more than two months remain in hurricane season. And lawyers for the defendants in the lawsuit are dragging the case out by stonewalling production of evidence. They refuse to answer even simple questions like, “Who was in charge of this project on the day of the flood?” And “Who is your insurance company?”
Water Six Feet Deep in Places
What started as a dispute over negligence has turned into a massive public safety issue. Residents estimated water in the streets of Elm Grove reached six feet in places. That’s deep enough to sweep people away and drown them.
My Wishes for Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest
That Perry Homes settles these lawsuits immediately and makes people whole, or…
That Perry Homes fast-tracks construction and completes the promised detention ponds, or…
That Perry Homes puts a conservation easement on the land, donates it to the County or a conservation organization, and converts the property back to its natural state or a giant lake/detention pond.
Failing any of the above, that the City of Houston or Montgomery County pulls construction permits for this property and renders it useless and valueless.
But before any of those things happen, the judge in this case may need to throw some lawyers and CEO’s in jail. If someone walked into a 7-11 and stole a loaf of bread, he would get jail time.
But steal the lives and destroy the homes of hundreds of people and what do you get? Delays.
It’s time to put a stop to this nonsense and hold people accountable.
These are my opinions on matters of public safety and concern. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP statute of the Great State of Texas.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/23/2019 with grateful thanks to Matt Swint for his drone images, Jeff Miller for his reporting, Allyssa Harris for her video, and Daryl Palmer for arranging the helicopter from National Helicopter Service, Inc.
755 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 3 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/All-of-this2-copy.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&ssl=110001500adminadmin2019-09-22 22:48:042019-09-23 07:15:42New Drone and Helicopter Footage Reveals How Elm Grove Disaster Unfolded
A neighbor, Jennifer Coulter, just sent me this picture of devastation today. She and friends tried to help flood New Caney flood victims today with their hands, hearts, and gifts of food.
Despair on Pecan Drive
They came to a neighborhood off FM1485 and Baptist Encampment road that backs up to Caney Creek. There, they met people who had little to start with and now have even less. They lost everything.
Home for Family of Seven Now Upside Down
Coulter had her life turned upside down by Harvey and is no stranger to the kindness of strangers.
“This area took my breath away because of the level of devastation,” she said. She sent me the picture above taken by a friend. “The flood knocked the trailer over. That was the home of a family of seven…since Harvey,” she said. “It landed on their washer and dryer and refrigerator that they had hooked up outside. Everything was destroyed.”
Children Clinging to Rafters in Attic
“We saw another home where the flood line was halfway up the ROOF. Children had been clinging to rafters in the attic to keep from being swept away by the flood.”
“Another lady we met had a heart attack and was released from the hospital the day before the storm. As the floodwaters rose, she and her husband heard something strange outside. They opened the front door and were immediately blown back by water that was knee deep.”
Third Highest Flood on Record
New Caney was one of the hardest hit areas during Imelda. On 9/19/19, the the gage at FM1485 received 19.36 inches of rain, one of the highest totals in the Houston region. Caney Creek rose 18 feet in a matter of hours. Imelda created the third highest flood on record after Harvey and 1994.
“The people affected have absolutely nothing salvageable,” says Coulter. “Mud covers everything. I’m going to share with our church. Others are, too. The need is great.”
Please help if you can.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/22/2019
754 Days since Hurricane Harvey and three days since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/jpeg-imag1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1450800adminadmin2019-09-22 16:56:292019-09-22 17:02:33Devastation in New Caney
Many homes flooded in Elm Grove this week that did not flood on May 7th, or ever before. Estimates from the homeowner’s association range from 2 to 3 times the number that flooded on May 7th. The shocking part: most of the flooding was preventable.
History of Problems with Woodridge Village
On May 7th, floodwater from a new development in Montgomery County contributed to the flooding of almost 200 homes in Elm Grove Village.
The basic problem: Perry Homes, its subsidiaries and contractors had clearcut approximately 268 acres. They filled in natural streams and wetlands without installing needed detention ponds. Runoff from the development then went straight into Elm Grove.
In the weeks that followed, hundreds of Elm Grove residents filed lawsuits against the developer and contractors. In the months that followed:
The Perry gang, managed to complete less than 25% of the needed detention pond capacity, despite ideal construction weather, and then they apparently stopped work altogether.
Drone Footage Shows Huge Clearcut Area Where Three Detention Ponds Should Have Been
As work came to a standstill, residents became concerned. Last Sunday, Matt Swint flew his drone over the development to document the status of work on detention ponds. Just four days later, Imelda struck.
Swint captured all three of the images immediately below on 9/15/2019. They show that no progress was made on ANY of the detention ponds planned for the northern section.
Woodridge N1 Detention Pond should have gone here. Woodridge N2 Detention Pond should have gone here. It was supposed to be the largest pond on the site, but the only work done on it was between 2006 and 2008 by Montgomery County.N3 Pond should have gone here.
No Work Ever Done on Northern Detention Ponds Despite Area Having Been Clearcut for Months
They could have hired extra crews to build those northern detention ponds. But no. Why be aggressive when you’re months behind schedule and have ideal construction weather?
Their lawyers were, however, working overtime, blocking discovery in the court case against the developer and contractors.
A judge failed to recognize the dire threat that Elm Grove residents still lived under. She may have unwittingly contributed to this mess. With no sense of urgency, she tolerated deliberate delays and set a trial date a year away.
Meanwhile, at an August 27th meeting, MoCo commissioners considered a motion to close a loophole that allowed developers to get away without installing detention ponds. Commissioners chose to table the motion. They insisted that Montgomery County didn’t have a flooding problem. They worried that closing the loophole could change the economics of work in progress and harm developers.
The Harris County Flood Warning System shows that the USGS gage at US59 recorded 11.56 inches of rain on 9/19/19, most of it during the late morning.
Second Verse, Worse than the First
On September 19, Elm Grove flooded again. Worse than on May 7th. Much worse. Beth Guide of the Elm Grove Homeowners Association and numerous homeowners estimate that the water was at least a foot to eighteen inches deeper. The additional water involved twice as many streets, and affected as many as two to three times more homeowners. Now they, too, get to join the lawsuit and battle institutional indifference. (Note: many streets are so congested that it is virtually impossible to get an exact count at this time. That number could change.)
Scenes from Elm Grove, One Day after Second Flood in Four Months
Today, I:
Witnessed men and women weeping openly as they hauled belongings to the curb for the second time in four months.
Watched kids discarding Christmas and birthday presents in trash piles that sometimes reached rafters.
Talked with a family that had just finished installing replacement cabinets from the May 7th flood.
Saw desperation in the eyes of young couples who feared bankruptcy.
Met the grown children of elderly people there to help salvage what they could for parents.
Defendants’ Responses to Plaintiffs’ Questions
As this tsunami of heartbreak unfolded in front of me, I could not get the defendants’ responses to the plaintiffs’ simple requests out of my mind.
For instance:
Request: Identify the entity or individual in charge on May 7, 2019.
Response: “Defendant objects to this Request for Production on the grounds it is vague, ambiguous, unclear and overly broad with respect to the requesting party’s use of the phrase ‘in charge…'”
Or how about this one:
Request: Identify the person in charge of permit compliance.
Response: “Defendant objects to this Request for Production on the grounds that such Request is vague, overly broad, and fails to specify and/or describe with reasonable particularity – as is required by Rule 196.1(b) of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure — the documents and/or things to be produced. Defendant further objects to this Request for Production on the grounds that such Request is argumentative and assumes the truth of matters which are not in evidence, and which may be in dispute, to the extent that such Request suggests and/or assumes that one specific individual was “… in charge of compliance …” by this Defendant as to the terms and conditions of TPDES General Permit TXR150000.”
Whew! That lawyer must be getting paid by the word. I know some people that could have communicated the same meaning with a finger gesture.
The judge in this case will hear a motion to compel responses on Monday, September 23rd in the 234th Judicial District Court of Harris County. I hope she puts a stop to this nonsense. It’s time somebody did…with the rain train spread out across the Atlantic during the worst part of hurricane season.
What 23% Retention Contributed To
This video shows what the people of Elm Grove faced during Imelda from Woodridge Village and what they will continue to face. With only 23% of the detention capacity in place, it overflowed when the design limits were tested. See video below.
It’s kind of like expecting a car with one tire to work as well as a car with four.
At 10:10:09 a.m. on 9/19/19, Jeff Miller’s security camera captured a cloud of silty water invading clear rain water that had been filling Forest Springs Drive (four blocks west of Taylor Gully) all morning. Miller believes that Woodridge Village’s S2 detention pond overflowed minutes earlier.See photo below.
One Day After the Latest Storm
Silt fence pushed toward Taylor Gully adjacent to Woodridge S2 detention pond. This indicates two things: There was not enough detention capacity; it overflowed. And water from the development did not follow the route it should have, i.e., through the outflow control device to the left. Photo by Jeff Miller.Bent silt fencing above Village Springs Drive failed to stop the flow of sediment toward Elm Grove. Abel and Nancy Vera burned out two power washers trying to get Woodridge muck off their driveway after Imelda. Abel Vera had to grab his car to avoid slipping in slippery, ankle-deep sediment on Village Springs. Rainwater alone would not have deposited so much muck. Nancy Vera says that her home had more than a foot of water in it before Taylor Gully overflowed. The water contained thick sediment from Woodridge just north of her house. It made a dangerous, syrupy mess.Flood debris lodged in the wheel well of Allyssa Harris’ vehicle which took on water up to the door handles despite being parked in her drive on higher ground. Bill King, candidate for Mayor of Houston, spent the day after Imelda investigating the causes of Elm Grove flooding. Woodridge is in the background.King also visited with homeowners who lost everything for the second time in four months. Another Elm Grove debris pile from Imelda flood. There are hundreds of similar piles.The joys and fun of children were dragged to the curb, too. New furniture. Old Story. Another Imelda debris pile in Elm Grove.For block after block, people were tossing flooded items. A masking-tape sign on a discarded headboard on Shady Maple in Elm Groveprovided the only ray of hope.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/20/2019, with images from Matt Swint, Allyssa Harris, Jeff Miller
752 Days after Harvey and One Day after Imelda
All thoughts expressed in this post are my opinions on matters of public opinion 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/2019/09/Woodridge-N1-Detention-Pond-Location.jpg?fit=1500%2C994&ssl=19941500adminadmin2019-09-20 23:02:182019-09-21 07:54:07Elm Grove Has 2-3X More Damage Than After May 7th, Much of It Foreseeable and Preventable
Dave Martin, City Council Member, asks residents to follow these special procedures to help ensure prompt pickup of Imelda-related flood debris.
Step 1
Please encourage friends, neighbors and community associations to report structural flooding, drainage concerns, and debris removal requests to Houston 3-1-1 by calling (713) 837-0311.
For the second time in four months, residents are piling storm debris at their curbs.
To bypass the beginning message, press 1 for English, then press 0 to speak with an operator.
The operators job is to simply log the request and provide a service request number.
Step 2
Once the operator provides the service request number, contact Martin’s office by emailing districte@houstontx.gov. In that email, provide any supplemental information (pictures, descriptions, etc.) relevant to your situation.
If you have specific questions, please email Martin’s office at districte@gmail.com. They don’t want anyone to get overlooked. Following these procedures will help them track your request, so his staff can help ensure prompt followup.
Starts Monday, 9/23
Solid Waste Department will begin storm debris pickup on Monday, September 23.
Residents may begin placing storm debris at the curb. Make sure it is not blocked by any vehicles or nearby mailboxes.
Keep Streets Clear for Heavy Trash Vehicles
Keep roadways clear to ensure trash vehicles can pass through. Please avoid street parking if possible.
Starting Monday 9/23, park off street if possible to allow heavy trash vehicles to help you.
Summary
Again…
Report all Houston storm debris by calling (713-837-0311).
Following the report, please email districte@houstontx.gov with the service request number and your address.
Martin’s staff will compile this information to provide to Solid Waste to expedite debris cleanup as much as possible.
Please let them know if there is anything they can do to help.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/20/2019
752 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Elm-Grove-9.19_68.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&ssl=110001500adminadmin2019-09-20 15:56:352019-09-20 15:56:44Special City of Houston Procedures for Flood Debris Pickup and Drainage Concerns
(Updated at 2 p.m.) Jeff Lindner, Harris County Flood Control Meteorologist, reported that life threatening flash flooding is underway from Conroe to Porter to Winnie.
8.36 inches of rain has fallen in 1.5 hours at Caney Creek and FM 2090. Two day storm totals now are 20-22 inches over SE Montgomery County and 15-20 inches over NE Harris County.
The gage at US 59 and the West Fork reported 4.56 INCHES IN ONE HOUR and more than 9 inches in three hours this morning.
As a consequence, the West Fork has now risen 6 feet since this morning. As a consequence, the National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, near Humble, until late Friday night, or until the warning is cancelled. West Fork Flooding is now likely.
Unlike last night, major flooding is now expected on the West Fork.
As of 11 a.m. forecasters expected the West Fork to crest at 53 feet. It is already to the major flood stage.
Other Bayous
Harris County’s bayous, creeks and tributaries are continuing to respond to the runoff from heavy rainfall. The following are out of banks:
Widespread deep flooding is in progress. Intense rainfall rates of 3-5 inches per hour can be expected in the Kingwood, Humble, Huffman, and Crosby areas. This will result in rapid onset flash flooding.
Kingwood Drive Closed By Wendy’s
Early this morning, I received a report that Kingwood Drive was cut off near the Randall’s shopping center near the front of Kingwood by the railroad tracks. Water was over the bumper of a fire truck.
Kingwood Drive is under water near Riverwood Middle School. Alberson can’t get to Town Center to see what is happening there. He can’t get through the Fosters Mill intersection.
Image courtesy of Josh Alberson. Kingwood Drive near Riverwood Middle School.HEB shopping center on Kingwood Drive at West Lake Houston Parkway. Water may or may not be in the store. Great enlargement shows people scratching their heads by the door. Photo by Josh Alberson.Memorial Hermann’s Convenient Care Center at Kingwood Town Center also appears to be flooded. Photo by Josh Alberson..The area next to the new retail development known as the Kingwood Docks. Photo from Kingwood Drive looking north by Josh Alberson.
Northpark Cut Off, Too
Northpark Drive appears to be flooded at numerous places between 59 and Mills Branch Road.
I received a report from a resident stating that a high water rescue attempt is in progress near the Northpark HEB shopping center. I’m not exactly sure where.
Daryl Palmer reports that Northpark is underwater near West Lake Houston Parkway also. It is impassable.
The St. Martha School near Northpark and Woodland Hills is reportedly flooded.
Mills Branch and Northpark. Photo by Josh Alberson. Alberson says that he saw an F250 get through, but other cars are flooding.
Cable Outages
I have also received reports of numerous cable outages which have hampered communication.
Other Street Flooding
Hunter’s Ridge and Bear Branch are experiencing street flooding similar to May 7th levels.
South Woodland Hills is flooding. A reader reports of one rescue that is currently underway of an elderly person.
Water is up to slabs in South Woodland Hills. Image Courtesy of Barbara Hillburn.
Jim Zura reports from South Woodland Hills that, “My properly-placed rain gauge filled up three times from yesterday through 10 AM. That’s 5 inches times 3. Just checked an hour later, and there was another 3 inches. So that’s 18+ inches in 24 hours. Flooding on my street is worse than the May flood, which was worse than Harvey, which was worse than Allison, etc.”
Josh Alberson in Kings Point said he almost flooded from water coming from his neighbor’s property, but was able to divert it.
Water is creeping up on several homes in Kings Forest, according to Jennifer Coulter. The Kings Forest Pool is in danger of flooding again.
Kings Forest Pool as of 11:40 am on 9/19/19. The pool house has 2-3 inches of water in it.
Flooding in Elm Grove a Foot Higher than May
Dianne Lansden reported that Elm Grove Elementary flooded.
Daryl Palmer reports that the flooding in Elm Grove is at least one foot higher than in May. Multiple homes have flooded again.
Jeff Miller, another Elm Grove resident, reports that streets that flooded in Elm Grove during the May 7th flood are filling up again.
Nancy Vera, who lives on the Harris/Montgomery County Line right next to Woodridge Village, says her and her neighbor’s homes are flooded again with brown water from the development. Vera says her backyard which borders Taylor Gully was dry when her home flooded. (Note: according to reports during the lunch hour, Taylor Gully is now out of its banks in this reach of the ditch.)
Nancy Vera’s home on Village Springs in Elm Grove on the morning of 9/19/19.Nancy Vera’s front yard, looking toward Village Springs. Woodridge development is to the right, out of frame. Submerged car at the end of Village Springs in Elm Grove. Photo courtesy of Allyssa Harris.Cogdill home at the end of Village Springs adjacent to new development.Photo courtesy of Allyssa Harris.Village Springs in Elm Grove. Photo courtesy of Allyssa Harris.Looking toward Woodridge Village, you can see a lake in the background. Video courtesy of Allyssa Harris. The detention ponds are totally overwhelmed.Close up cropped and enlarged from the shot above, better showing the water level coming from Woodridge. Photo courtesy of Allyssa Harris.
Below is video shot by Allyssa Harris showing water flowing OUT of Woodridge Village INTO Elm Grove. This leaves no doubt where the water is coming from.
Photo courtesy of Allyssa Harris.Taken at end of Village Springs looking toward Woodridge Village.
According to Allyssa who took the shots above, a kayaker just came by and said that Taylor Gully is now underwater.
Porter Flooding
Gretchen Dunlap-Smith in Porter immediately west of Woodridge Village who flooded on May 7th is flooding again. She reports that her house which never flooded before May 7th is filling up rapidly again.
Please check on vulnerable neighbors to make sure they are OK.
The City of Houston warns that multiple roads and highways are impassable. Water may rise into some residential buildings in Kingwood. Additional heavy rainfall is expected.
Lake Houston
As of 1:30 p.m, Lake Houston was up significantly, according to the Coastal Water Authority.
Lake Level
45.96 ft.
Normal Pool
42.38 ft.
Update Time
13:30 PM
Here’s what Karen Pickle’s Boat House looked like at 10:30 this morning.
By 12:30, it looked like this.
Stay tuned to Mother Nature.
3-hr rainfall rates range from 6-10 inches
Significant flash flooding is in progress. Water is entering homes in Huffman and water rescues are ongoing.
If you feel your life is in danger, call 911.
Other Affected Areas
It appears this line of thunderstorms will move south into the Spring, Sheldon, Highlands, and Baytown areas over the next hour. Flash flooding is likely along with rises on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, Gum Gully, and Carpenters Bayou.
Intense rainfall band sagging southwest toward Houston at 9am CT Thursday. (kktv.com/Space City Weather)
Posted by Bob Rehak at 8:30 a.m. on 9/19/19, updated at 2 p.m.
751 Days after Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_1938.jpg?fit=1008%2C756&ssl=17561008adminadmin2019-09-19 08:42:042019-09-19 14:07:16Life Threatening Flash Flooding Underway From Conroe to Porter to Winnie
The National Weather Service just issued a FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR OUR AREA. Extreme rainfall rates of 3-6 inches per hour could lead to extensive and rapid onset flash flooding. This flash flooding will be possible over the Humble, Kingwood, Huffman, Crosby areas if a line of thunderstorms progresses slightly more to the SSE over the next few hours.
Given saturated grounds and already high water levels in E/NE Harris County these sort of rainfall totals would result in significant run-off and flash flooding.
Travel is strongly discouraged in the Flash Flood Warning and Flash Flood Emergency areas.
Overnight, the remnants of TS Imelda continued to shift north. The heaviest rainfall occurred north and east of Houston. The East Fork of the San Jacinto is at flood stage at Splendora and New Caney. The NWS has issued multiple flood warnings for that area.
A band of intense rainfall with rates of 3-5 inches per hour continues from Conroe to Porter to Liberty to Winnie.
Conroe Airport recorded 5.16 inches of rain in the last hour.
This band of intense rainfall will move into the NE portions of Harris County over the next hour impacting areas around Kingwood, Humble, Huffman, and Crosby.
Flash flood warnings for much of the NE Houston, SE Montgomery County and W Liberty County that had been due to expire this morning have been extended to this evening.
Intense rainfall rates will result in rapid onset urban flash flooding. It is already in progress in SE Montgomery County.
Source: National Weather Service via SJRA.net
West Fork and Lake Conroe Well Within Banks
Overnight, the West Fork of the San Jacinto at the SH99 (Grand Parkway) received another three inches of rain.
Lewis Creek on Lake Conroe received two inches in the last couple of hours.
Lake Conroe is now at its seasonal lowering target of 199 feet (actual reading is 198.88). Until now, the lake had been about a half a foot lower than its target due to evaporation. Despite the rain, Lake Conroe is still two feet below its normal level of 201 feet. That means an additional two feet of buffer remains before the lake reaches its normal level. Another two feet remains beyond that before the lake would have to open its gates.
The West Fork at US59 is at 43.5 feet, a little up, but still six feet from coming out of its banks.
Source: Harris County Flood Warning System
Currently Lake Conroe is still releasing 0 cubic feet per second. I.e., NOTHING.
East Fork Getting Hammered
Over on the East Fork, it’s a much different story. The storm has hammered that area all night.
Caney Creek at FM2090 received 12 inches in the last 24 hours and almost 6 inches in the last six hours. And 4.5 inches between 6 and 7 am.
The East Fork at New Caney has risen 18 feet since yesterday and will continue rising. It is currently at 62.78 feet.
FM1485 is now under water and closed.
Peach Creek at Splendora rose 10 feet since yesterday.
The East Fork at 2090 received more than 14 inches of rain in the last 24 hours, more than 8 of those inches falling overnight. As a result, the stream rose another six feet since 2 a.m. Flooding is now likely.
Source: Harris County Flood Warning System
Source: Harris County Flood Warning System
Lake Houston Up Slightly
Lake Houston is at 42.78 feet. Normal is 42.38. As East Fork rains descend into the lake, we can expect a rise. How much depends on the amount of rain this morning across the region.
The remnants of Tropical Depression Imelda should continue to drift slowly north today as extremely warm and moist air flows into Southeast Texas.
This moisture will feed the development of slow moving and training thunderstorms with rainfall rates of 3 to 5 inches per hour.
A persistent swath of storms across Eastern Montgomery, Liberty and Chambers county should wobble north then south early this morning.
Storms should continue to expand and develop further to the west as far out as the College Station by mid to late morning. Eventually a band of rainfall should develop and amounts across the band of 3-5 inches should be common with isolated amounts near 10 inches while outside of the band heavy rainfall may be more scattered in nature with amounts of only 1 to 2 inches.
The heavy rains will not only cause street flooding but with the elevated river and bayou levels more river flooding is likely to occur. The flash flood watch may need to be extended this evening. The flood threat may begin to shift further north tonight toward the Madisonville and Huntsville and Crockett areas.
Worst to East; Consider Yourself Lucky
As bad as this sounds, it could be worse. Areas east of us received an incredible 17.24 inches of rainfall in 6 hours near HWY 124 with a storm total nearing 28 inches. Catastrophic flooding is in progress along I-10 between Winnie and Beaumont.
Protective Actions
DO NOT Travel. Wait until the threat of high water has passed.
Turn Around, Don’t Drown®: Do not drive through flooded areas. If you see water covering the road, do not attempt to cross it. Only a few inches of water can float a vehicle . If you find yourself in a dangerous situation where your vehicle is taking on water, get out of the vehicle, get to a higher position, and call 911.
Monitor Official Sources for Current Information: Harris County Flood Warning System (harriscountyfws.org), Houston TranStar (houstontranstar.org), and the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston Forecast Office (weather.gov/hgx).
Monitor Stream, Bayou, and Creek Conditions: Rain may move repeatedly across the same area, causing creeks and bayous to rise and possibly exceed their banks. Stay informed of current conditions and avoid traveling near creeks and bayous.
Avoid Traveling during Periods of Heavy Rain: Rain can reduce visibility and prevent you from seeing the road ahead, which could lead to accidents.
Posted by Bob Rehak at 7:30 a.m. on 9/19/2019
751 Days after Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/HGX_loop-1.gif?fit=600%2C550&ssl=1550600adminadmin2019-09-19 07:36:162019-09-19 08:08:21Thursday AM River, Lake Report for Lake Houston Area; Flash Flood Warning In Effect
Click on the Rainfall and/or Stream Elevation tabs to see graphic representations like those above.
Better yet, establish an account and sign up for automated alerts. You can customize your preferences or accept defaults for as many gages as you wish.
The ground is already saturated. So any additional rainfall will result in rapid runoff So good luck to East Fork residents tonight and tomorrow.
Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist says “Additional rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches with isolated amounts up to 6 inches will be possible in this area with totals west of I-45 generally less than 2 inches.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/18/2019 at 6pm
750 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/790-1.png?fit=540%2C400&ssl=1400540adminadmin2019-09-18 18:17:542019-09-18 18:18:02East Fork Rose 11 Feet Today; Almost Out of Banks at FM1485
The National Weather Service has issued an urban and small stream advisory for the northern Lake Houston Area. It extends across north Houston up to Conroe. Expect street flooding.
According to Harris County meteorologist Jeff Lindner, the center of Imelda is drifting over southwest Montgomery County as of late Wednesday morning. Lindner adds that “lull” in heavy rainfall over Harris County should last until early afternoon. Expect rain to pick up significantly between mid afternoon and evening.
Flash Flooding Possible
The National Weather Service cautions that heavy downpours with rainfall rates between 2-4 inches per hour are possible. That’s enough to cause street flooding.
The National Weather Service in League City has issued a
* Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory for...
Southwestern San Jacinto County in southeastern Texas...
Southeastern Montgomery County in southeastern Texas...
West central Liberty County in southeastern Texas...
Northeastern Harris County in southeastern Texas...
* Until 1245 PM CDT.
* At 949 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain that will cause
urban and small stream flooding in the advisory area. 3 to 6
inches of rain have already fallen across portions of these areas
and additional rain is expected during the next several hours.
* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Conroe, Humble, Jersey Village, Willis, Aldine, Northside /
Northline, Kingwood, The Woodlands, Greater Greenspoint, Spring,
Spring Branch North, northeastern Addicks Park Ten, Oak Ridge
North, Panorama Village, Shenandoah, Splendora, Patton Village,
Roman Forest, Woodbranch and Cut And Shoot.
Incredible Rainfall Rates South of Houston
Incredible rainfall rates of 3-4 inches per hour have resulted in a 24 hour storm total of 21.34 inches at Sargent with 7.56 inches falling in 1.5 hours and 10.72 inches in 3 hours this morning. This shows the potential of this air mass to produce excessive rainfall in a short period of time.
Heaviest Rainfall Expected Along US59
As the air mass heats late this morning, expect renewed development along/near the US 59 corridor.
Where exactly this band develops and how defined it becomes remains in question. But higher intensity rainfall rates will be possible in the afternoon and evening hours.
Rainfall Total Forecast
Expect an additional 2-4 inches with isolated amounts of 6 inches this afternoon through Thursday morning. Remember, 2 inches per hour can cause street flooding. Don’t drive through high water. Park your car on high ground.
To check the rainfall rate per hour, go to http://harriscountyfws.org, click on the a gage near you, then click the “for more information” link that pops up.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/18/19 at 10:45 am
750 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/image8-1.png?fit=725%2C408&ssl=1408725adminadmin2019-09-18 11:02:262019-09-18 11:08:16Center of Imelda Drifting Over SW Montgomery County as of Late Morning Wednesday
