HOUSTON – A mandatory evacuation has been issued for west Houston residents who live along Buffalo Bayou and have water in their homes. Mayor Sylvester Turner urged those residents to leave by 7 a.m. Sunday.

Turner said engineers believe water releases from the Addicks and Barker reservoirs in west Harris County will continue for at least 10 days but could last as long as 15 days. He said personal safety and the strain on first responders are the primary reasons for the evacuation request.

The Army Corps of Engineers began a gradual reduction in releases from the Addicks and Barker on Sunday night. These reductions are expected to continue through Sept. 15. The plan of release is based on the forecasted rainfall over the next seven days, which is less than an inch, officials said.

VIDEO: Reservoir forecast through Sept. 18

The reduction in water release means that people living along Buffalo Bayou around Highway 6 and Interstate 10 might get some relief from the high water.

Homeowners who live downstream, particularly homeowners in west Houston who live south of Interstate 10, will begin to slowly see water levels go down as the releases are reduced.

VIDEO: Army Corps of Engineers updates reservoir releases

If the projected rainfall increases, more water will be released from the reservoirs.

Officials said that once the water has receded, engineers can inspect the dams for damage that might have been caused by rapid outflow of water, and make any repairs.

The mandatory evacuation of homes and apartments is for the area west of Gessner, east of Highway 6, south of I-10 Katy Freeway and north of Briar Forest.

VIDEO: Mayor Turner discuss flooding in West Houston area

Houston fire Chief Sam Pena said most people in the affected area west of Gessner Road have already evacuated, but there are pockets where people have remained.

Houston police Chief Art Acevedo assured homeowners who have not left their home that officers will protect the neighborhoods that have been flooded.

VIDEO: Power being turned off in some areas

Turner said emergency crews will shuttle residents to a shelter if needed.

Peak release for both reservoirs happened over the weekend.

20,000-year flooding event

Jeff Linder, a meteorologist at the Harris County Flood Control District, said an average of between 35 and 45 inches of rain fell across the entire county. That rainfall amount constitutes an event that only happens once every 10,000 to 20,000 years, Linder said.

VIDEO: Aerials of west Houston flooding

Linder also said that the 47 inches of rain that fell in Clear Creek in a four-day period constitutes an event that happens once every 40,000 years.

“So, an extraordinarily rare event has occurred,” Linder said.

Linder said pool levels in both reservoirs are beginning to fall, but the release from the dams is necessary to allow the reservoirs to absorb any other rainfall that the region might receive.

Engineers said if there is another significant rain event, the gates would have to be closed to allow the basins to collect the water.

PHOTOS: SE Texas before and after Harvey

Holliday family finds relief after visit to neighborhood

With the Briarforest community practically underwater in most places, many can only sit around and wonder how bad their home may have been damaged by several feet of flood waters.

"Coming back and seeing how bad it is now is something I cannot comprehend. It's too much to take in," Suzanne Holliday said. "It's just hard to put into words what my heart is like. It's going to beat out of my chest because when we left it was drier."

The Holliday family evacuated Wednesday and caught a boat ride Friday to get important medications and documents.

Jay Punnakal was the captain of the boat trip. He came from San Angelo because he had a boat and the resources.

"A lot of these people are desperate to see their homes. Maybe pets or supplies or medications in there and we're just trying to help people out," Punnakal said.

Although they couldn't make it past the strong current of Buffalo Bayou, the Hollidays were able to wade the last few hundred yards.

By the time they came back, the family shared the pleasant surprise around the bend.

"Amazingly enough our neighborhood is dry. None of the homes took on water," Holliday said. "To open the door and see the floor and through the great room and not see water was so overwhelming of a feeling."

One family's story of relief and new friends made along the way to help them make that discovery.

"It's amazing to see such heartfelt people out here. People helping people. That's what Texas is all about," Holliday said.

MAPS: Barker Reservoir Elevations | Addicks Reservoir Elevations

List of neighborhoods near reservoirs

The following neighborhoods are located within the watershed of either the Addicks Reservoir, or the Barker Reservoir. Evacuations have been issued in these locations.

Subdivisions in Barker Reservoir watershed:

Arcadia

Arcadia Court

Cinco Ranch Equestrian Village

Estates of Barker Lake

Flagstone Estates

Green Trails

Green Trails Crossing

Green Trails Forest

Green Trails Oaks

Green Trails Park

Green Trails Village

Highland Trails

Kelliwood

Kelliwood Enclave

Kelliwood Gardens

Kelliwood in Nottingham Country

Kelliwood Lakes

Kelliwood Place

Kelliwood Trails

Kingsland Acres

Kingsland Estates

Lakeforest of Kelliwood

Lakes of Buckingham

Lakes of Buckingham Kelliwood

Memorial Parkway

Memorial Parkway Village

Nottingham Country

Oak Park Trails

Parklake Village

Parkview at Barker Cypress

Ricefield Village

Stonelodge

University Park West

Westgreen Park

Willow Park Greens

Windsor Park Estates

Windsor Park Lakes

Subdivisions in Addicks Reservoir watershed:

Barker Addition

Barker Crossing

Barkers Branch

Barkers Crossing

Bear Creek Central

Bear Creek Estates

Bear Creek Farms

Bear Creek Trails

Bear Creek Village

Bear Creek West

Charlestown Colony

Clay Hill Park

Clay Hills Plaza

Clay Meadows

Concord Bridge

Concord Colony

Cypress Parke

Eldridge Park

Estates at Cullen Park

Feste Park at Bear Creek Village

Forresta Village

Georgetown Colony

Glencairn

Glencairn Park

Glencairn South

Hearthstone Place

Jamestown Colony

Lake Harbor

Lakes of Eldridge North

Lakes of Pine Forest

Lakes on Eldridge

Lakes on Eldridge North

Landing at Park Harbor

Langham Creek Colony

Mayde Creek Farms

Park Harbor

Park Harbor Estates

Park Harbor Oaks

Park Place Center

Pine Forest Green

Pine Forest Landing

Pine Forest Village

Ranch at Barker Cypress

Savannah Estates

Timber Creek Place

Twin Lakes

Villages at Lakepoint

Westlake

Westlake Forest

Westlake Place

Yorktown Crossing

Westside Business Park

For more information about this situation, go to ReadyHarris.org.

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