Dunnam Road Archives - Reduce Flooding

May 10, 2024 – The floodwaters have finally receded. The sun has come out. And the debris piles are ba-aack. People who flooded during the storms last week are taking advantage of the break in weather to muck out their homes, toss wallboard, and cart waterlogged furniture to the curb.

Nowhere in Kingwood was the flooding worse than on Dunnam Road where Taylor Gully, Caney Creek, White Oak Creek, Peach Creek and the East Fork San Jacinto all come together. At least six homes and a business flooded. And badly.

Today, I visited the area again to survey the damage and talk to the survivors. For the people who live there, it was like the Boulevard of Broken Dreams.

Photos Taken 5/10/24 on Dunnam Road

This isn’t the first time that Dunnam Road flooded. And it won’t be the last. Part of it is low and close to the river.

The flooding seemed especially poignant this time, however, because the heaviest rains fell more than 60 miles away and worked their way downstream over a period of several days.

The floodwater even peaked briefly and started to recede. This may have given many people false hope that they wouldn’t flood, despite the Harris County meteorologist’s warnings to evacuate.

*West side of Dunnam is filled with debris piles.*

*East side is also filled with debris piles. Note how force of water pushed fence in.*

*I think they’ll be needing more buckets and scrub brushes.*

*This lady and her husband just moved here from El Paso by way of Tucson and LA. They wanted a place that wasn’t so dry and found Houston. She’s 5’6″ tall*. *So you can see how deeply their home flooded.*

*Carrying all your belongings to the curb.*

*Flooded closets and driers left people with only one option. The backyard fence.*

*This is a very patriotic community and many homes will need new flags.*

*Oblivious to the tragedy and just happy to be in Grandma’s arms as she surveys neighbors’ damage.*

Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/10/24

2446 Days since Hurricane Harvey

May 1, 2024 – Even as East Fork homes are flooding, the National Weather Service has issued another Flood Watch for the region.

Monday’s Storm Brings Wednesday’s Flood

The stormwater from last Sunday night/Monday morning that’s flooding homes near the East Fork San Jacinto could get reinforcements tonight. Another powerful storm is approaching and will collide with moisture laden air from the Gulf later day.

That caused the National Weather Service to issue another flood watch from 10 PM this evening until Thursday evening for Houston and Harris County.

That same NWS bulletin also says that a flood warning remains in effect for the East Fork San Jacinto near New Caney affecting Liberty, Montgomery and Harris Counties.

Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist, warned in his midday report that “Widespread amounts of 2-5 inches are likely with isolated totals of 6-9 inches. High hourly rainfall rates will be likely on the order of 2-4 inches which will produce rapid onset flash flooding.”

Lake Conroe and Lake Livingston Already Taxed to Max

The additional rainfall could overburden already overtaxed watersheds. “There is no capacity at either Lake Livingston or Lake Conroe,” said Lindner. “Additional inflows and run-off will have to pass through the dams’ floodgates.”

Although Lindner expects the heaviest rains to stay north of Harris County, “There is some potential that some of the heavy rainfall reaches into northern Harris County overnight,” he added.

If so, the storm could impact Spring, Cypress, Little Cypress, and Willow Creeks as well as the tributaries in northern Waller and southwestern Montgomery Counties, such as Lake Creek.

Lindner says significant rises will be possible depending on the rainfall amounts and patterns. Flash flooding will be likely where heavy rains occur.

That could deal a devastating blow to homes already flooding along the East Fork.

East Fork Photos Taken Morning of Mayday Flood

Pictures taken this morning between 9 and noon showed roads flooded out and many homes and vehicles already underwater.

*TXDoT closed FM1485 at the East Fork/Montgomery County line.*

Streets close to the river also flooded.

*Looking S. Casey Road on left flooding from East Fork on right.*

*Home with flooded vehicles and heavy equipment at Casey and Spaulding.*

I took more than a hundred photos like these this morning. Some people were lucky with the water stopping just feet from their homes. Other people were not so lucky. They will need help.

Colony Ridge, Plum Grove and FM2090

Farther north, I explored Colony Ridge and Plum Grove near FM2090.

*One of the main entrances to Colony Ridge* *where it approaches Plum Grove Road*

The water there was already starting to recede. But still, many roads were barely passable. Most smaller vehicles did not brave the water.

*Opposite angle, same intersection. Unable to see the sides of the road, traffic tried to stay close to the centerline to stay out of the ditches.*

Looking NW over East Fork. FM2090 was still passable, but water lapped at the bottom of the bridge. The East Fork completely flooded the abandoned sand mine (upper right) and swept sediment out of mine.

Ironically, even though I could see my way out of Colony Ridge (from the air), I could not get to FM2090 on the ground because of floodwaters. I had to drive south to SH99 to return home.

Dunnam Road Boat Launch

Back in Kingwood, I called a friend on Dunnam Road. She said her boat launch flooded and that water was lapping at the first house coming up the hill.

*Note water surrounding house adjacent to boat dock. Luckily it did not flood and water is receding as of 4PM.*

*This young man appeared to be making the most of the flood by giving his daughter a fishing lesson.* *A neighbor told me he’s been doing that since she was born!*

Posted by Bob Rehak on May 1, 2024

2437 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Tag Archive for: Dunnam Road

Boulevard of Broken Dreams: Debris Piles are Ba-aack