Katy Magazine News - Katy, TX
August 31, 2017
Katrina Katsarelis, Katy Magazine
A confusing mandatory evacuation advisory was announced by Fort Bend County at 1:00 AM this morning. Residents of several neighborhoods were scared and confused because their neighborhoods were included in the evacuation even though they had no water or flooding in their homes or their streets. The Army Corp of Engineers confirmed this morning that no new flooding is expected in these neighborhoods and were not part of this Fort Bend County Advisory. Northlake Village in Cinco Ranch, for example, was named in the Mandatory Evacuation although it was not flooded and was never under any evacuation. Residents were calling each other and posting messages on social media trying to figure out what to do.
Jeff Lindner also confirmed this morning that no new flooding is expected in the Barker/Cinco Ranch areas.
Basically, this is a false alarm and was intended to warn residents against going BACK into their flooded streets and areas. Fort Bend County does not want residents going back into flooded homes and neighborhoods until the water has fully receded.
If you did not get water in your home you should not expect to get water in your home at this point. Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert clarified that homes in the flooded areas are the ones that are currently under Mandatory Evacuation and should not be entered.
FORT BEND COUNTY'S CONFUSING ADVISORY IS BELOW:
Thank you for Feeding Katy's First Responders, 1000 Degrees Pizza!
New Mandatory Evacuation for Barker Reservoir Area Communities
FORT BEND COUNTY, TX August 30, 2017 PM – The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is currently forecasting a record pool elevation level in the Barker Reservoir several feet above the levels in the Tax Day flood of 2016. The reservoir has risen to 101.1 feet at this time and imminent flooding is expected in this area. As a result Fort Bend County has changed the voluntary evacuation to a MANDATORY evacuation order for the following subdivisions:
CANYON GATE - all sections
CINCO RANCH - following sections:
Bayou Park Estates
Cinco Forest
Equestrian Village
Fountain View
Greenway Village
Institutional Core
Southpark Meadow Place
North Lake Village
Plaza Subdivision
West, Section 7
Willow Fork
GRAND LAKES - all sections
KELLIWOOD – following sections:
Courts
Fairways
Greens
Links
Park
Pointe Terrace
RICEFIELD VILLAGE
WILLOW FORK - Greens, Section 1
There is an interactive map on the Fort Bend County OEM website where citizens can type their address and see if they are in a mandatory evacuation area. Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management Evacuation Interactive Map.
Fort Bend County's unincorporated area is currently under a curfew from 12:00 AM to 6:00AM and it is best not to travel on these roadways until daylight. Residents are advised to make preparations now to remove all persons and pets out of the neighborhoods. All evacuees should take their important documents and medication with them when they leave. Additional vehicles can be parked at the Cinco Ranch High School.
If you are a resident in the evacuation zones and you do not have transportation or a place to go – PLEASE CALL Fort Bend Office of Emergency Management at 281-342-6185 and request assistance with the evacuation.
For current shelters in Fort Bend County go to Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management’s Road Closures page. Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management’s Shelter page.
For an up-to-date lists of road closures and traffic issues, please visit the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management's Road Closures page. Do not assume that your route will be clear and do not return home until officials say it is safe.
For more information or if you have questions, check the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management website at fbcoem.org, the FBC OEM Facebook page, the FBC OEM Twitter account, or call 281-342-6185.
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