Unfortunately, this is not the worst part of the flooding.

[LuckyCharms]

I've been through a nasty flood.

Right now is the time when despite the horrible rising waters, people pull together and help each other survive. There is a feeling of togetherness and hope. There is a feeling of awe.

And there is shock which masks the reality of what is happening.

Then in about a week or so, when the waters recede, it sinks in and hits you like a ton of bricks.

You can now see what that water had previously covered. The smell gets worse each day. And everything is filthy and covered with dangerous mold.

At about this time, you realize that your life will never be like it was.

It is almost as if you wish that your home was just swept away and you had to rebuild from scratch. That often seems a better alternative than what follows after a flood.

I am not a big praying person, but I'm praying now for Texas with tears in my eyes as I type this. RIP to the people and animals who lost their lives. To those who remain, may you be able to obtain the resources you need.

[NightWatcher]

1. The biting flies after Ivan broke me down.

Everything was went and hot and dirty but the biting flies were what sent me over the edge. I was tired, dirty, in need of a shower, sick of everything about digging out.

I feel for the people affected in that area.

[LuckyCharms]

2. I'm sorry this happened to you.

Yes, the fatique is overwhelming.

[NightWatcher]

5. I was digging out my ex inlaws. They were loaded, so it was ok

We were trying to salvage their treasures and valuables before the house was condemned.

[calimary]

30. Welcome to DU, LuckyCharms!

I cannot imagine the fatigue. TOTALLY overwhelming. It would be one thing if the rain stopped tomorrow and everything dried up quickly. Hell, they're all going to be mired in this particular situation for WEEKS. I heard something about how the floodwaters aren't expected to recede until late September. SHEESH. That's a MONTH. And that's just at the point where the flood part is over. The recovery - AY-yi-yi... The bugs, the flies, the mosquitos, the heat, and since this is only the start of hurricane season, I bet a lot of folks in that area find themselves wondering - "what's next?"

[Igel]

42. The floodwaters will be gone before mid-September, at least around here.

Brazos crests tonight, will start dropping around 9/6. It's the last to drop because it drains a large area that was hit by Harvey.

Some bayous around here are already dropping, but slowly. Those with small, local watersheds dropped to near normal yesterday around where I live, and downstream they're cresting and will be normal in a day or two. It's the ones that extend a ways west and north with large watersheds that will take a day or two to drop, but they'll be in their banks within 4, 5 days. Their current status is like that of Cypress Creek, https://www.harriscountyfws.org/GageDetail/Index/1120?span=24 Hours&v=rainfall .

Even Buff Bayou, https://www.harriscountyfws.org/GageDetail/Index/2270?span=24 Hours&v=rainfall , will decline not because the reservoir releases will decrease but because the bayou's crested and gradually subside.

They're saying 91 degrees by Thursday and Friday. Gonna be a nasty cleanup.

Refugee populations are predicted to be around 30k. The convention center's pushing 10k, and that's unworkable and they're going to break that population up a bit. I think the 30k number is lowball, but if you have friends and family you have a place to stay. Those few I know who were flooded out had offers from 3-4 people each. Donor fatigue will hit, but it's not hard to move back in. Most houses only had a couple of feet of water. Gut the first flood, remove drywall, let the studs dry and replace kitchen stuff. Ugly, but if you have a second floor it's livable until FEMA coughs up money and you can find a contractor.

[Hun Joro]

50. The Brazos is expected to crest here on Thursday.

I am watching with some anxiety.

[LuckyCharms]

60. Thank you, calimary.

[FLPanhandle]

8. I felt like I had PTSD after Ivan

You are right about hot, dirty, no electricity, working hard everyday on cleanup.

Don't forget seeing neighbors and friends who were worse off.

The worst time was after the news media packed up and left. We were a non-story but suffering.

[NightWatcher]

13. Someone made a sign for the entrance to the subdivision " no tourists please"

People were driving around to see other people's misery.

It sucked.

[LuckyCharms]

62. When I got my own place stabalized...

I went to help a guy down the street who had water to his roof line. Even if you were leaving your home, the Town required that everything be stripped to the studs first.

While doing that, I got a mouthful of wet and moldy drywall, and inhaled a little of it.

Looked down and saw a children's book and a soaked Teddy Bear. Broke down crying.

My good thoughts are with you...I understand about the PTSD...

[malaise]

40. After Gilbert we discovered that the Bob Marley statur near the stadium had a fresh water pipe

by the side - we had our own shower curtains and a group of us would have a bath once a day.
On Saturdays we'd go to Hellshire, eat some fish, swim and then head to Marley for a shower and shampoo.
That went on for weeks.
There is nothing worse than not having a bath when you not just want one, but need one.

[Lotusflower70]

3. True that

I have been through flooding as well. At first, it's just immediate needs and concerns. You are in a blur because your focus is food, water, shelter and making sure your family is safe. But then as the water starts to subside, you start to go through what you can salvage, if you can salvage anything.

Then you grieve and you feel anger. You go through the process of claims and dealing with sometimes callous and insensitive insurance adjusters. It's hard to figure out where to start because it feels so overwhelming.

I am praying for those in the Houston area and Louisiana as well. May they continue to receive help and find their way forward.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. The stink never goes away.

[HopeAgain]

6. Many have no flood insurance

They will be dependent on FEMA. It will take months and months to even get an assessment of the damage for many.

[Igel]

43. If they are dependent on the national flood insurance program they may have to wait.

It's routinely underfunded and needs Congress to authorize money for it to pay out.

Some of the Sandy funding was for the NFIP, for instance.

[stopbush]

7. How does one go about relieving themselves during and after a flood?

Obviously the sewers are clogged and there's no place for the waste to go. What do you do?

I have no idea, which is why I'm asking.

[LeftInTX]

10. Port-a-potties

Trucks come and empty them every few days.

[stopbush]

33. I assume people trapped for a couple of days just poop off the roof

or out the window, no?

[LeftInTX]

34. I would probably have a sudden case of constipation

We were stuck camping at a place with no facilities for a few days...Nothing going on down there...same thing happened to my kids.

[Not Ruth]

52. Floaters?

[lastlib]

51. aka "Trump Dumps"

(you can dump your trumps in 'em, but they don't all have toilet paper--a soon-to be-scarce commodity.....)

[Igel]

44. East coaster?

When I was a kid rainwater backed up the basement bathroom. I sort of forgot about this.

In Houston the sewer system and rainwater systems are separate. Pee in a storm drain and it'll bypass the sewage treatment plant and go straight to Galveston Bay, eventually.

Rainwater only gets into the sewers for waste treatment through manhole covers (maybe--that's speculation) and if a house floods enough for the water to go down the shower drain.

After Ike the car-accessible areas in front of where I lived were underwater, but at no point was there any problem with drainage from sinks, showers, or toilets.

Don't know about areas outside of the Houston area. I'm outside Houston now and it's still true, and I know that 10 miles north of here in The Woodlands it's true.

(But seriously. You're flooded out and in 3 feet of water, you pee where you stand.)

[stopbush]

45. So, are you saying that even if the first floor if your home is flooded to the ceiling

the toilet and other fixtures on your second floor will still work normally?

Don't know, I'm asking.

BTW - what happens when toilets and sinks are underwater? Does the water drain down the sink?

[Sunlei]

56. my pvc pipe outside drains are connected to -front-city/road storm water drains. back-city sewege

line. The back French drains connected to city sewer lines always drain fastest.

Sewer lines are placed higher in underground, street storm drains are buried deeper in the ground.

when the city grades easement lands they wing the grade away from the city sewage lines to try to keep sewers last to be flooded. I assume toilets, sinks would drain IF the outside city sewer line wasn't also major underwater.

[whopis01]

59. It depends on the layout of the sewer system

It always flows downhill of course, and it isn't always downhill all the way from your house to wherever the final destination is. So along the way there are lift stations. These basically lift the sewage up so that it can continue to flow away from the area.

So it flows from your house down to the lift station, then is raised up a few feet by pumps ands starts flowing downhill again away from the station.


This works great unless the lift station doesn't have power. Which I am guessing is the case in a lot of places.

So water will flow into the system until it levels out - which won't take very long. Then it isn't flowing anywhere.

[LeftInTX]

9. My son and his wife rent a 3rd floor apt in Houston

They are here with me in San Antonio.

What will happen to their places of work? Businesses and schools will be lost. Many of their coworkers own homes.

Although the loss of life will be less than Katrina, the actual damage might be more.

This is Houston...what is going to happen to Houston....our country's 4th largest city...it is an economic power house.....

It is devastating even for apartment dwellers, who can easily get jobs in other locations.

I just can't imagine someone who who owns a home and calls Houston home.

[Not Ruth]

11. The bad part is that there could very well be a worse storm in Houston next month

I would not rebuild.

[ToxMarz]

20. No one will be rebuilt by next month and there could very well be a worse storm all along the

US coastline, and tornadoes in the midlands, and earthquakes, and on and on. What they need sensible reconstruction. Economically the coastline cannot be abandoned, that's why they were developed in the first place.

[Not Ruth]

21. Houston is one of the most vulnerable major cities in the world in terms of climate change

Article from June (that is before this storm)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/16/texas-flooding-houston-climate-change-disaster

"Sam Brody is not a real estate agent, but when his friends want to move home they get in touch to ask for advice. He is a flood impact expert in Houston – and he has plenty of work to keep him busy.

The Texas metropolis has more casualties and property loss from floods than any other locality in the US, according to data stretching back to 1960 that Brody researched with colleagues. And, he said: “Where the built environment is a main force exacerbating the impacts of urban flooding, Houston is number one and it’s not even close.”

Near the Gulf coast, Houston is also at annual risk from hurricanes: it is now into the start of the 2017 season, which runs from June to November. Ike, the last hurricane to hit the Houston region, caused $34bn in damage and killed 112 people across several states in September 2008."

[ToxMarz]

24. An argument for sensible reconstruction. It won't be abandoned.

[Solly Mack]

12. K&R

[world wide wally]

14. A "trillion" dollars?

These poor people

[trof]

15. And every bit of that construction debris has to be picked up and hauled away.

All the ruined drywall and flooring.
Cabinets and furniture.
Plus appliances. Washers, dryers, fridges, freezers, dishwashers, TVs, etc.
They will be scouring the countryside for new landfills.

[LuckyCharms]

61. That's right, trof. Everything needs to be discarded.

About 5 of my neighbors who just escaped the flooding came to help me.

They dried out apx. 3500 to 4000 photographs by carefully laying them out between layers of paper towels. I then finished the drying process by taking a blow dryer to each and every one of them. They were slightly damaged after this, but they are at least scanable. That is a future project.

But pretty much everything that the water touches has to go to the curb. Then you wait a few weeks for the Town to come with a backhoe to take it all away. In the meantime, you get to watch people pull up to your curb to scavenge through your stuff.

[trof]

68. I've worked for a clean up company and a friend is with the one that...

has the contract to clean up Houston and Harris county.
They get paid by the cubic yard for biodegradable debris.

[Skittles]

16. I took a walk last night, and tried to imagine it with....water up to my neck

I cannot imagine

when I was 14, I came home from school and my dad had been taken away, seriously ill, and flown to a hospital in America. I know what it is like to lose your home, friends, school very quickly.....that is tough even without the water.

[LuckyCharms]

64. I'm so sorry, Skittles.

Situations like yours are life changing.

[Wounded Bear]

17. The money cost is only a part of it...

Much of the ninth ward was never repopulated. I wonder how much of Houston will go that route.

[BigmanPigman]

18. I think probably would be healthier and wiser to rebuild elsewhere

if you can. My classroom had to be torn down after it was "refurbished" and had so much mold that my students and I were showing each other how to use inhalers after being in the environment for only 4 weeks. I had to teach in a coat closet, the lunch room, etc before they determined it was cost efficient to tear it down (8 classrooms in all). I have permanently respiratory damage since the school district didn't take my pleas for help seriously.

[BamaRefugee]

19. Still, in a couple of weeks, we will see what we always see on cable news...

...multiple folks all saying "Well I reckon we'll just rebuild. We got 7 generations here by the bayou, we seen Ike and Alice and (fill in the blank) " over and over in interviews...everyone in places like Houston, New Orleans, or us here in L.A. all make calculated bets that it won't be US that gets wiped out.

We're all whistling past the graveyard.

[Srkdqltr]

22. Sad

I watched one of those "find me a house on water" programs. The places were on the Gulf in Texas. The houses they looked at were on stilts and there were big open spaces between houses..One here one there. I wondered at the time if the people were aware that a hurricane had probably wiped out the houses that were missing. The people buying were so geeked to be that near the Gulf. I hope they survived.

[calimary]

29. Welcome to DU, Srkdqltr!

I used to dream of owning property in Malibu, or an island like the one owned by a schoolmate of mine who came from a very wealthy family. Now? NEVER!!! Not that I have that kind of money, mind you, but even if I did, I think I'd want to go find a house on a mountaintop. Maybe with a VIEW of the water, way off at a safe distance.

Besides, if it's ocean water, you've got ongoing corrosion from the salt, in the water, the surf, and the air. You're NEVER free of it.

But hey, who am I to talk? I live in earthquake/brushfire/mudslide country.

[Srkdqltr]

49. No matter where you live

there are drawbacks. We have tornados here large snow storms.. I live near a river and a large lake. I guess you live where you want until you cannot.

[OldHippieChick]

23. Worked for the Feds after Katrina.

We also did Rita and Wilma. Granting low percentage loans to those who want to rebuild. You cannot get that low % money if you are going to build elsewhere. Doesn't seem fair, but it is what it is. Fortunately commercial loans are pretty low right now, but that is where folks will have to go if they don't want to rebuild where they are.

Mobile homes will only qualify for low percentage for a personal property amount. After Katrina (10 years ago) it was $10K.

[Duppers]

31. Wonder what the odds are

Of their being hit again in a few years?

Don't think it worth the risk. I'd relocate, not rebuild. Climate scientists are saying this will continue to get worse.

[OldHippieChick]

41. Floridians do it year after year and are used to the drill. I learned that

the hard way. If they don't get what they want when they want it, they call their Congresscritter and they hound the federal worker in charge of letting go of their money. Many Houston citizens will probably learn the drill, but not sure I would do it while money is still cheap in the private sector. After Katrina private money was very expensive, so the fed deal was hard to pass up.

Hard to know how you'd feel as many of these people have lived there all their lives and would not have a clue where else to go.

[Duppers]

48. Inland, perhaps Austin?

I'm just thinking decades ahead when these huge hurricanes become even more intense, as scientists are predicting. Both on the Gulf Coasts and on the eastern seaboard where I live. (Lucky here that hubby is retiring and we can and are moving.)

None of this is easy in any sense. I feel for people less lucky than myself (one of the big reasons we're all Dems.)

Thanks, HippieChick.

[They_Live]

69. Austin is full.

no more people please.

[Stuart G]

25. Thank You for sharing your thoughts and experiences.......k and r...no text..

[Warpy]

26. Most people closed their windows and locked their doors when they left

and will be surprised by how much water got in, anyway. They will especially be shocked by all the mud that settled out and is all over everything. First job is to get all the ruined stuff out to the curb and hope sanitation gets up and running within the next 3 months. Second is to try to figure out how to scrape all the mud off the floors. Third is to realize that the drywall and insulation have to be torn out to the water line, that the walls have to be left open to dry out, and that it's going to take a lot of time and a lot of money to fix the house when they thought it was only the stuff inside that got wet.

I think it would be easier if the house just got picked up and swept away. At least then, you could get a manufactured house trucked in and have someplace dry to live while you decided whether you'd rebuild or just try to sell the land because now you know it'll flood again someday.

[Fla Dem]

27. I can't even begin to imagine what these people have before them.

I evacuated because of Matthew last October. The time away watching news broadcasts was so stressful not knowing what was in store for us when we returned home. We were blessed, whether in the religious sense or fate. While the intercostal flooded our neighborhood, the water only came 3/4 of the way up our properties. The sense of relief I felt turning into our street was overwhelming. Other close by neighborhoods were not as fortunate. There are people who have not yet returned to their homes.

But this, in Houston, no words.

This is a huge geographic area. Thousands of homes, apartments and condos ruined. Only 1 in six homeowners had flood insurance. That means no recompense for anything you lost or restoration expenses. All the vehicles that have been lost.

They can't live in their homes, they'll need temporary housing but where? We're talking thousands of people. Community services are gone in wide swaths of the Houston area. Doctors and dentist offices, restaurants, banks, ATMs, nursing homes, grocery and drug stores, gas stations. All the services and providers you depend on in your day to day lives. Jobs are gone. Schools, day care centers. It's as if an atom bomb went off in Houston. Even downtown, office buildings with lower level damage. Even if businesses opened where are the people that staff those offices or stores? Or how are they going to be able to commute? Their cars are gone. All the highway infrastructure will have to be evaluated for structural soundness and closed until repairs can be made.

Houston and the surrounding areas may become ghost towns or tent cities.

I don't know how I would handle it. Sitting in one of those relief centers. Wondering what the hell do we do now. Just overwhelming.

[LeftInTX]

39. This is what I'm thinking too

I have no idea what is going to happen to Houston.

[mountain grammy]

28. I've cleaned up after several floods

And one fire. Prefer fire.

[C Moon]

32. I can't imagine what it's like...

On top of everything else, there's:
dealing with insurance companies
dealing with loan companies
each one overwhelmed and dragging their feet, as well.
Wow, that sounds horrible.

[Big_K]

37. There was a great "Dirty Jobs" episode

where Mike Rowe helped clean up in New Orleans. Horrible, horrible experience of stripping homes to the framing, and washing everything off. Catching rats that had taken over many of the flooded places that had food sources. Trying to control the mosquitoes from all the pools that REMAINED FILLED WITH FLOOD WATER after the "flood" waters had receded.

I grew up in Florida, and had the eye of hurricane Dora go over my house -- a house build of ugly concrete blocks on a raised lot, in the 1950's, when they remembered what hurricanes could do -- but I could never again live near a coastline. Except Lake Michigan, about 1/4 mile away. And if it floods up to my house, the whole Midwest is f*cked.

[Dustlawyer]

38. And to top it off, the Texas legislature and Governor Abbott gave the insurance lobby

what they wanted last Spring and signed a new law restricting and limiting hurricane claims! Get this, it goes into effect Friday the 1st!!! We have until Thursday night to grandfather our claims and Harvey hasn't even hit me yet! Not until early morning hours tomorrow. How do you file a claim with no electricity and you cannot leave? Over the phone if you can get through, but I do not trust them!

[marybourg]

53. Mortgage companies.

You still have to pay your mortgage even if you can't live in the house. Unless they can get some sort of state-mandated mortgage "holiday".

[LuckyCharms]

63. I was very lucky, FEMA was there in 2 days...

FEMA was gruff, but very efficient. had money from them very soon.

My un-flooded neighbors put me to bed when I was stumbling around calling them by the wrong names. They cooked spaghetti meals on their gas grill for me and others.

The Red Cross truck was there twice a day. Complete meals, entire bags of apples, and cases of water were provided by them.

I got to work and was essentially back to almost normal in about 6 months. I broke my body while doing it (I'm not a spring chicken), but I'm glad I did it.

[C Moon]

67. +1

[Honeycombe8]

35. The water is full of petrochemicals in places. It's an industrial area. nt

[Dustlawyer]

36. +1!!!! Thank You!

[WinkyDink]

46. FYI: I have FEMA Flood Insurance. A bit of my driveway got torn away in some hurricane. FI does NOT

cover ANYTHING EXCEPT the house itself.

Not the driveway. Not any furniture or other belongings.

The structure. That is it.

[a kennedy]

47. I pray, give what I can, and mostly just bawl for all of people living in and near all the areas.

[Sunlei]

54. I read 80% of those whos homes flooded do not have flood insurance. 1,000s of renters can't go back.

My regular homeowners insurance doesn't cover flooding, I have to pay extra for flood. I have paid for several years just because of climate change extreme rain.

I didn't flood this time thank god! but water was closest I've ever EVER had. Tornado damages and home floods a couple blocks away!

[LeftInTX]

55. Adjusters are already arriving tomorrow

I assume because of all the businesses. Most of those businesses will get back on their feet. Oil refineries will not be moved to Austin. People who have work in that area will rebuild. Some people who are fed up will leave, but I assume those that work in Houston will stay there. My son is anxious to get back to work. He's a mechanical engineer and couldn't find a decent job in San Antonio. There were plenty of opportunities in Houston.

[radius777]

57. especially being a major city

there is much more going on, more chemicals/sewage etc, more people, much more expensive to rebuild, etc.

[sprinkleeninow]

58. That is exactly what came to mind when viewing

one of those videos of people wading around in thigh high deep water on a street/roadway.
They're not hysterical or crying. Just trying to make way.

It occured to me, oh God, these are in shock.
Adrenalin flows. Then comes the stark reality of what just happened to them and where they find themselves.

My God. It's unspeakable. 😥
Oh, my heart....

[cannabis_flower]

65. My husband's comment

"Maybe Zika". There is going to be tons of mosquitos.

[womanofthehills]

66. I see mold as one of the biggest problems

People can get very ill just cleaning mold up. Can you ever get all the mold out of a water damaged house? Yrs ago, my allergy dr told me to never live in a house that was flooded as there is usually hidden mold.


Avoiding Mold Hazards in Your Water-damaged Home

A water-damaged building requires special attention to avoid or correct a mold explosion. Molds produce spores that spread easily through the air. They form new mold growths (colonies) when they find the right conditions: moisture, nutrients (nearly anything organic) and a place to grow.

Mold can damage materials and health. The longer mold is allowed to grow, the greater the risk and the harder the cleanup. So as soon as the floodwaters recede and it is safe to return, don’t delay cleanup and drying.

Take photographs to document damages for insurance purposes, and get started. It is not wise to wait for the adjuster to see it in person. Most homeowners' insurance policies do not cover mold damage or mold remediation costs.

Although there is wide variation in how people are affected by mold, long-term or high exposure is unhealthy for anyone. Exposure to mold can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks. It may suppress the immune system or have other effects. Some types of mold can produce mycotoxins in certain conditions, which can be present in spores and fragments in the air. “Black mold” is a misleading term since many types are black.
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/family_home/home/health_safety/indoor_air_quality_mold/avoiding-mold-hazards-in-your-waterdamaged-home