Houston – Engineers 20 Years Ago Warned Of Flooding Risk

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    A volunteer from Texas A&M University helps to clean up flood damage in the house of an alumnus in southwestern Houston, Texas September 2, 2017. REUTERS/Rick WilkingHouston – A report released two decades ago about the Harris County reservoir system predicted with alarming accuracy the catastrophic flooding that would besiege the Houston area if changes weren’t made in the face of rapid development.

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    The report released in 1996 by engineers with the Harris County Flood Control District says the Addicks and Barker reservoirs were adequate when built in the 1940s.

    But it notes that as entire neighborhoods sprouted over the years around the reservoirs in western Harris County, as many as 25,000 homes and businesses at the time were exposed to the kind of flooding Harvey has now brought.

    Engineers proposed in the report, obtained by The Dallas Morning News , a $400 million solution that involved building a massive underground conduit that would more quickly carry water out of the reservoirs and into the Houston Ship Channel.

    Arthur Storey, who in 1996 was director of the flood control district, says he’s embarrassed that he “was not smart enough, bold enough to fight the system” and implement an action plan to prevent the damages of Harvey from occurring.


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    4 Comments
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    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    6 years ago

    Remember, Houston has no zoning laws. Now they want us to pay to repair the damage of their own actions.

    cbdds
    cbdds
    6 years ago

    Like most infrastructure projects that were never done, it was always lack of money.
    Our Cities, States and the Federal Government are left with no ability to do infrastructure after paying SNAP, Medicaid, Section8 and more programs. I truly believe that those that need the help get it while those that can work should do so.

    Butterfly
    Butterfly
    6 years ago

    They never learn from their mistakes. When they are told to build something by other governments they do not build so then we get flooded again! ie Katrina, Sandy, and now Harvey. The Dutch gave the government suggestions which they very politely turned down. When it happens again,,,did we hear the Dutch come in yet… no!!why should they?