Addicks and Barker Reservoir Flood Damage Lawyers
Hurricane Harvey caused unprecedented flood damage in Houston, Texas and surrounding communities.
Areas of Houston received more than 50 inches of rain, while roughly 70% of Harris County was covered with at least 1.5 feet of water at some point during the storm. The Texas Department of Public Safety reported that more than 200,000 homes have been damaged, with more than 13,500 destroyed.
For residents of west Houston and west Harris County, however, the flooding didn’t end with the storm.
On August 28th, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Houston Flood Control District began releasing water from the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs into Buffalo Bayou in an effort to prevent flooding in surrounding areas.
Less than 48 hours later, the Addicks and Barker releases were increased from approximately 700,000 gallons of water per minute to almost 7 million gallons per minute. This decision was made knowing that thousands of homes downstream that had remained dry during Harvey would soon be inundated with water from the reservoirs.
Was Your Home or Business Flooded From the Addicks and Barker Reservoir Releases? Contact our Undefeated Flood Damage Lawyers for a Free Consult at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here
In addition to being undefeated, our Flood and Hurricane Damage lawyers have won more than $1 billion for clients across Texas, including thousands of home and business owners whose properties were damaged during Hurricane Ike and Rita.
Having suffered flood damage ourselves, our firm is committed to devoting whatever resources are necessary to helping Houstonians who lost their homes or businesses as a result of the reservoir releases recover their property damages through inverse condemnation actions against Harris County Flood Control and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Our lawyers will explain your rights, answer your questions, and help you determine if and when you should
- Pursue an inverse condemnation claim against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Houston Flood Control District for flood damage related to the reservoir releases.
- File a lawsuit against your flood or homeowners insurance carrier for delaying, underpaying, or denying your claim.
All consultations are free and, because we work exclusively on a contingency fee, you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case.
Call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here to contact our Experienced Flood Damage Lawyers for a Free consultation.
Homeowners and Businesses Who Suffered Property Damage Due to Addicks and Barker Reservoir Releases May Be Entitled to Recover their Damages from Army Corps of Engineers and Harris County Flood Control
The Addicks and Barker Reservoirs, which are located in west Houston on the north and south sides of I-10, were designed to drain excess water from the city into the Buffalo Bayou.
When the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs were first built in the 1940s, the surrounding area was mostly undeveloped prairie and agricultural land. In the ensuring decades, new housing developments sprung up on the neighboring land, with some homes being built right at the edge of the reservoirs.
Because of the unprecedented rainfall from Harvey, the Houston Flood Control District and Army Corps of Engineers began releasing water from the reservoirs into the Buffalo Bayou around 2:00 a.m. on August 28th.
Less than 48 hours later, the releases were increased from 718,000 gallons of water per minute to over 6 million gallons of water per minute, knowing that doing so would flood homes and businesses downstream that had not flooded during the storm.
As a result, over 4,000 properties in west Houston that survived Harvey’s rainfall without damage were severely flooded.
Even if the Decision to Release Water from the Reservoirs Was Justified, Both the Texas and Federal Constitutions Entitle Flooded Property Owners to Recover Adequate Compensation
As explained in more detail here, even if the the decision by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Houston Flood Control District was justified, both the Texas and U.S. Constitution require the government to pay adequate or just compensation whenever it intentionally “takes” or damages a property for public benefit.
When the government takes private property without paying the owner just compensation, the owner has a right to sue the government to recover the repair or replacement costs through an “inverse condemnation” action.
An inverse condemnation claim could allow homeowners and businesses who sustained flood damage due to the release to recover:
- The cost to replace or repair their homes, businesses and vehicles
- Lost profits (for businesses), and
- Damages to contents, inventory and equipment
For the majority of Houstonians without flood insurance coverage, an inverse condemnation claim may be your only means of recovering your losses.
Even those with flood coverage will likely have damages that exceed their policy’s coverage limits (which are typically $250,000 for property damage and $100,000 for contents), all of which can be pursued through an inverse condemnation action.
If Your Home or Business was Flooded from the Reservoir Releases, Call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here for a Free Consult with our Houston Flood Damage Lawyers.
Having recovered more than a $1 billion for our clients, our undefeated attorneys have the resources and experience needed to help ensure you’re fully compensated for your losses.
We’ll explain your rights, answer your questions, and help you evaluate the best options for you and your family.
All consultations are free, and you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case.
Call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here to submit a confidential email through our “Contact Us” form.