The sun is out at our house on the west side!

That video slow&rusty posted the link to is very disheartening.
Houston will be a long time recovering from this one.

Side effects are hitting.

Gas is up $0.30 a gallon.

Stations that actually have any in my area only have Premium.

Little sister in law is in Greece on her honeymoon, got out on Friday from IAH just as Harvey was making landfall. Finally reached someone at their apartment complex and apparently every building has water on the first floor. They have a first floor apartment.

Here comes the gouging... https://www.google.ca/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=gouging+in+houston&i e=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gfe_rd=cr&dcr=0&ei=WQemWea5GIHRXrHUvxA

So, we have good news.

As many know, we live behind the Addicks Reservoir. The water has built up to historic, unprecedented levels that no one EVER expected. They just announced a major reduction in the estimated maximum level (109.1 feet AMSL). My house is 114...

We remained dry, which I cannot say for other friends and family. I have 2 additional families living with me. Neither has a flooded house, but neither can get home due to flooded roads. So many people in our neighborhood did not head the warnings and were stranded, and had to be evacuated by boat. I would say less than 10% of my neighborhood remains dry and accessible.

The sub-divisions just south and east both had major flooding. Over 10,000 homes were flooded behind the reservoir.

My office is also dry. So I'm one of the fortunate ones.

The final rain totals for Harris county is 52". So, a bit MORE than a meter...

Really glad to hear you came through unscathed. Also nice of you to take in additional people during this tragedy. When I see the news clips, I see mostly middle America housing & neighborhoods but the people they show mostly look like poorer welfare people. I wonder if that's because the media tries to find the most downtrodden types to interview but show how lots of nice homes have been flooded.

Those with better means can get farther out of the area.

It's worse than you think. It's unprecedented. I know people who have 8 feet of water in their home, but are putting their flat bottom boat to work. I plan to head down this weekend.

Many folks don't have flood insurance. Would FEMA funds help them?

That should NOT happen imo! I'm all for FEMA providing disaster recovery basics and assisting however.

Thanks for the positive news from your house James! Sounds like you dodged the proverbial bullet....

Houston will never be the same imo....just like NOLA...there's pre/post Katrina and Harvey will be similar....a game changer for sure.

FEMA will help with emergency housing. They can get a low interest loan from the SBA to rebuild. That's what was explained on the news.
Very good news James. This unimaginable.

James, glad you were lucky. Good on you for doing your part and helping out. You guys are all in my prayers, there's a long road ahead.

I have had flood insurance since I bought my first house in Houston in 1980. Fortunately I have never had to make a claim on it there or where my current house is now. A friend told me it was a waste of money and if you are not in a documented flood plane you don't need it. I think the peace of mind is worth it.

James, I am sure you are considering this, I am just passing along my past Hurricane and flooding experience along.

Are you on city water and sewer? The sewer is going to fail very soon if it has not already.


If you are on well and septic, with 3 families in the house, and saturated ground, you are going to overwhelm the septic unless habits change.

We use what we call, Bahamas Rules, in the Bahamas on the remote Islands, they catch rain water and use it to run the house. Water is gold there.

Toilet, yellow mellows brown goes down. Tell the fellas to go piss in the yard somewhere.

Shower, water on get wet then off, soap up, water on rinse then off. If girls are shaving, cup of water to rinse razor.

Brushing teeth, water on and off as needed.

Great to read some good news, there are going to be so many stories of loss in the upcoming weeks.

Good morning Guys. Chiming in form Baton Rouge and we just went through what you guys are going through almost a exactly a year ago. We had the 1000 year flood. The shock of the flooding is now dwindling, but the long term issues are going to FAR outweigh the shock of the flooding. We had 1000's of folks that flooded and had no flood insurance, didn't need it. Homes in X flood zone got 6 feet of water due to back flooding. Some of these families are still not in their homes. The FEMA flood insurance program is broke. The clean up , and rebuilding is sooo long and arduous. The drywall, 1 foot above the flood mark, and EVERYTHING below that to the slab must be thrown out. Cabinets, flooring, everything. Some who had tile flooring though that it would be ok, but when the mold began to grow in the voids under their tile and it began to pop up after they had done all the major work and painting are now having to do their floors after the fact. And think how long it going to take to get replacement material for your house, especially cabinets, when thousands of others are trying to do the same thing. The city had a major issue over here on where to put all the debris. Imagine the sheetrock, appliances, furniture, flooring , insulation, ect..in a pile in your front yard for weeks, rotting and mildewing. Sorry guys but your issues are just barely starting.
Necessities- Bleach, dehumidifiers, cleaning supplies, shovels, hammers, crow bars, rubber gloves, breathing mask. Remember the longer you wait to do this removal mold will literally take over.
I was part of the Cajun navy during our event last year. Couldn't make it to help yall out but looks like my brothers are doing what they set out to do. Our prayers and support are heading your way. You will never imagine to outcome and results of this event till your way on the other side of this.

One of my friends lives in Houston. He is a new home owner and just bought his first house ever a year ago. He actually bought flood insurance and all of his Houston friends told him he was wasting money. All his friends that said don't bother it is a waste of money have flooded. His house is dry. the flood waters were within a few feet of his front door but never got any higher and have been going down. He figures that flood insurance was the best insurance ever. He does of course realize flood insurance like any insurance is not like buying "insurance" from the mob, it does not prevent the damage but all his friends without it flooded, and he didn't so it must have worked! ;)

James where do you live?

Anybody know anything about the Missouri City/Stafford area? I have a friend who lives in the New Territory development who was posting about shooting snakes and gators off his back porch on Monday. Nobody has heard from him since. I know there is a bayou about two blocks from his house I guess in normal times that would be a good thing. Now, I do not know.