Woodlands residents demand drainage relief, recovery funds

A street sign in a flooded neighborhood of The Woodlands, north of Houston, on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017. Waters began to recede in parts of flood-ravaged Houston on Wednesday as Tropical Storm HarveyÂs wrath shifted east. (Barbara Davidson/The New York Times) less A street sign in a flooded neighborhood of The Woodlands, north of Houston, on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017. Waters began to recede in parts of flood-ravaged Houston on Wednesday as Tropical Storm HarveyÂs wrath ... more Photo: BARBARA DAVIDSON, STR Photo: BARBARA DAVIDSON, STR Image 1 of / 587 Caption Close Woodlands residents demand drainage relief, recovery funds 1 / 587 Back to Gallery

At least a dozen homeowners in The Woodlands' community of Timarron Lakes demanded drainage relief and recovery funding from The Woodlands Township as they clean up from their second major flooding disaster in a little over a year.

Timarron Lakes, located south/southeast of Spring Creek along the west side Kuykendahl Road in North Harris County, is part of the Village of Creekside Park that took on water in the Tax Day floods of 2016 and again more than a week ago as rainstorms from Hurricane Harvey dumped at least 30 inches in some areas of The Woodlands.

Rich Jakovac, Municipal Utility District 386 board president, told The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Tuesday night that around 300 homes in Creekside Park flooded after Harvey made landfall near Rockport Aug. 25.

"Township board, township staff, we need your help with funding," Jakovac said.

Timarron Lakes homeowners who attended the special township board meeting vented their frustrations about devastation to their homes and pleaded for The Woodlands' leaders to take action as they recounted raging floodwaters running through their homes.

"It's time to get something done with the drainage situation in Timarron," said Tim Rennie, Timarron Lakes homeowners association secretary. "This is twice in four years. My house isn't even four years old. We need you guys to step up to the plate and hit a home run."

Raul Giorgi, another homeowner in Timarron, said he could never ethically ask a buyer to see his home, due to how badly residences have flooded twice in the last 15 months.

"When I hear the rain, I know it's time to get out," said Jeremy Oehmen, adding that his home has been on the market since late 2016. "It's time to take action. You got to do something. We pay a lot of money in taxes. You're on notice. We need answers."

Township board members said they would do everything in their power to address the community members' concerns, but with one caveat: They had little to no control over drainage issues or development in The Woodlands.

"This board is a glorified homeowners association," said The Woodlands Township Board Chairman Gordy Bunch, adding that the township depends on two county governments.

The board then approved up to $500,000 in contractual services for storm recovery efforts, including debris removal. The money will come out the township's operational fund and contingency fund, Bunch said. Should the need arise, it would consider more funding.

Storm Debris Pick-up

Almost every home in neighborhoods severely affected by Harvey, such as Timarron Lakes, has a pile of debris in front of it, Bunch said.

Storm debris pick-up for residents in The Woodlands on the Montgomery County side already has started. Those on the Harris County side, specifically Creekside Park, started this week. Both contracts are under FEMA.

"We don't get schedules when they are going to be in what neighborhoods," Bunch said. "All we've been told is that they are starting and they're going to have to be in different places at different times."

The Woodlands Township has prepared a backup plan in case FEMA storm debris contractors approved last week by Harris and Montgomery counties do not remove the debris in a timely manner.

During the 2016 Tax Day floods, debris removal took Harris County Precinct 4 at least weeks, Township President/General Manager Don Norrell said.

"We are not going to leave our community stuck in a pile of trash if there is an alternative for us to get it taken out," Bunch said. "But we're also not going to be foolish and say, "OK, we're going to spend that money on something that is going to get done tomorrow."

Norrell said the board is looking at several options to dispose of debris, including adding Dumpsters to some neighborhoods, encouraging volunteers with trailers or pickups to assist storm victims and asking residents to take storm debris to a drop location.

To be picked up, debris needs to be sorted into four categories, including landscaping, drywall/carpet/trim, appliances and electronics.

For more information, please go to www.eng.hctx.net.

Recycling

Curbside recycling also has been delayed due to Waste Management manpower shortages. Is is unclear when curbside recycling will resume.

"We can't look at services in the township solely being provided by people who live here," Bunch said. "A lot of these employees from like Waste Management and other companies, they live in areas that have damage and they live in areas that may still be flooded."

Those who cannot wait until next week or have accumulated a large amount of recycling can drop it off at the Precinct 3 Recycling Center, located at 1122 Pruitt Road. Normal fees will apply for all recycling drop-offs at the recycling center, according to the Precinct 3 Commissioner's Office.