Brazoria, Saturday, September 9, 2017, 11:00 PM

Well, we made it back to Brazoria yesterday, arriving around 2:00 PM.   No water entered the house!  Hurrah!   Apparently we never lost electric power either -- the digital clock on the stove still displayed the correct time.    

Ditches have mostly drained.  Lawn littered with sticks.  Grass must be 6" high.  Rain gauge says 3.5 inches ... Ann thinks that's too low.  I tried to mow the front yard (the part inside the fence where Robbie chases squirrels) but gave up -- too hot and too many mosquitoes.

Before we left we put everything valuable (and portable) on shelves, tables, or counters.  So now it seems like a good time to clean the floors.  Mop, sweep, vacuum, mop, sweep, vacuum, mop, sweep ... ugh.   

Also a good time to start going through stuff in the storage room.  Do we really need all this stuff?

• Old computer monitor.  Will take it to Best Buy for recycling.
• Three ancient laptops (two Apple and one ...).   Maybe the County historical museum would like them?  If not, they go to Best Buy too.
• Several hundred USGS quad maps.  Still planning to try to sell them on eBay.   
• The "fish mirror" (a huge heavy wall mirror that belonged to Ann's grandparents).  Has a minor damaged spot in the silvering layer that more-or-less resembles a fish; hence the name.  Maybe Sarah will want it someday?  Hey ... every costume designer needs a big mirror!
• Two four-drawer file cabinets full of stuff.  Uh... put it off till tomorrow.  Or the next day.  Or....

    

Katy, Friday, September 8, 2017, 1:30 AM

The latest from NOAA:

Looks like the Brazos dropped below flood stage earlier today.  Hurrah! 

Katy, Thursday, September 7, 2017, 10:30 PM

Still in Katy but we plan to return to Brazoria tomorrow, September 8.   My friend Phil assures me that roads are open, and he thinks water did not enter our house.   We hope that's true but we won't know until we get there tomorrow.  

I suppose the grass must be a foot tall by now.  It seems to grow an inch a day during hot humid summer days with an occasional showers (our friend Ellis calls them "sun showers.")

We all went out to dinner tonight at Red Robin to celebrate.  I ordered shrimp-and-slaw ... not the best choice ... more breading than shrimp.    But it was fun to celebrate with the family.

Robbie Rosco, our four-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, has been a good boy throughout.  He chases squirrels and doves in the back yard and participates in barking matches with a white dog on the other side of the back fence (I've never actually seen that dog ... just flashes of white in the cracks between boards as it runs along the other side of the fence). 

Robbie always comes back in when called even if he's in the midst of a barking match.  Good boy Robbie!

Robbie Rosco Dog McLain

My next report will be from Brazoria after we get back to our house.

Katy, Wednesday, September 6, 2017, 9:30 PM

An uneventful day, still in Katy.  Sarah left early to head to her Alley Theater job at a temporary location ... took the boys and dropped them off at day care on the way.  Clint left a bit later.  I headed out to get a haircut and pick up some stuff at Wallmart ... Great Clips near Walmart was busy with maybe a dozen people waiting ... gave up, went to Walmart with my list of random items.   Walmart almost vacant ... seemed like there were more employees than customers ... guess everybody was trying to get haircuts instead of groceries.  Picked up a copy of the Chronicle on the way back. 

Brazoria County road-and-bridge map still says roads near are house are closed.   Decided to stay another day or two in Katy.

Called my buddy Phil in Brazoria.  Phil says most of the roads are open, no matter what the county says.  Says downtown Brazoria is returning to normal ... Stewart's grocery is open ... Buc-ee's monster gas station is open.  He drove past our house; says he thinks water didn't enter the building.  Hurrah!  

We will probably leave Katy and head home on Friday.

Katy, Tuesday, September 5, 2017, 1:00 PM

Pete sent the following message earlier today:

1. We were flooded here in Houston, but are recovering with mostly floors and lower walls damaged. Little loss of property as we moved everything up and protected it in tubs or plastic. Relatives are here helping clean out while I am fixing various broken or drowned items.      2. Neal very nicely created a blog spot where he is keeping up with various people's status. When a bulletin came through that all Brazoria county buildings were to be closed, there was a brief discussion online and the notice was posted canceling the meeting.      3. Kristine has been occupied with family and recovery efforts, as have most of us. Generally the thought was that our efforts were better directed to more pressing issues.      4. I should have remembered to email a cancellation notice since I knew how Kristine was occupied. I totally forgot that there are still people out there who aren't on FaceBook.      5. Let's all press forth with recovery efforts and we can regroup next week to see where things stand (or are still floating). 👻😀 Thanks, Pete!

Katy, Monday, September 4, 2017, 3:00 PM

I finally got a copy of the current Houston Chronicle!  Chronicle has been unavailable at newsstands since we arrived in Katy ... maybe because they all sold out so fast or maybe because they quit printing it for a week.   Anyway it's back now, as familiar as ever, except that the color comics are grayscale.  I can live with that.

On the way back ... meandering around the neighborhood...

Sarah and Clint's home on Dabney Manor Lane, Katy.

Another street in the neighborhood
John Rolfe Lane?  The real John Rolfe?

Go Texans!

  

A familiar number except for the area code
Rohn Tower Company, Peoria, Illinois  309-697-4400
During my years in the CATV industry I probably called that number hundreds of times ... mostly to order parts for towers but occasionally to discuss a new tower.  

Clint's truck ... equipped with kid seats for Nathan and Owen

  

Katy, Monday, September 4, 2017, 4:30 AM

NOAA profile of the Brazos River at West Columbia (the monitoring station nearest Brazoria).

It looks like the crest will arrive at Brazoria tomorrow and last two days.

---

Clint and Nathan spent the day at Georjean's house helping repair damage.  He reports:

• The damage to my mom's house was minimal at best. A section of the wall to the back half of the house had blown off letting water in. This was old and falling apart anyway. The roof had leaks and the storm made them worse.

• Several people helped: Jason, Robin, Shawn, Justin, Robin's mom (Vicki) and stepdad (Tom), Jason's friend Richard, Nathan, and me.

• I tried and failed at fixing the kitchen sink clog. Nathan and the others cut down a large bush (really was a tree now.).  The first floor and kitchen still have issues. 

• I removed an old A/C unit from the side of the house and installed two replacement light fixtures in the barn. Shawn and Tom patched the hole in the back wall. The house needs to be leveled (that's my two cents.)

• Everything she wanted to be safe is safe now.

Georjean is Clint's mom.  Shawn and Jason are Clint's brothers.   Robin is Jason's wife.  Justin is Shawn's son.  Nathan is Clint's son.

 

Katy, Saturday, September 2, 2017, 7:30 PM

Another routine day.    We're still camping out at Sarah's place in Katy and it looks like we'll be here for a few more days.  According to the Brazoria County website, County Road 400 is closed from CR 762 to FM 2004.   This is the same closure the County imposed last year.  Back then the southeast end of the road was indeed under water but the northwest end, closer to where we live, was actually open -- just "closed" because that was a convenient administrative shortcut.  

Reports from friends:

• From Phil, southwest of Sweeny near the Matagorda County line: Their house isn't flooded but daughter's house is, so daughter and family (including dogs) are staying with Phil and Susan.

• From Mickey, on the banks of the San Bernard River: Their house has about six inches of floodwater.  Mickey, her daughter and grandson are currently at daughter's house but planned to evac north sometime today. Husband Sam is still in the house, camping on the second floor.

• From Jamie,  in Angleton: High and dry.  Angleton never flooded.

• From Lisa, in Lake Jackson: High and dry in their second floor apartment but surrounding land is all flooded.

• From Jim, in Columbia Lakes: Evacuated to his sister's house in Tulsa; not sure about flooding at his house.   

We all went to dinner tonight at the local Red Robin.  Back home now, watching television.  Local stations have preempted normal programming to report on flood conditions.

Katy, Saturday, September 2, 2017, 1:30 AM

It looks like the Brazos River has crested at Richmond.  The crest will move downstream and hit Brazoria in a day or two.   When it hits it will overflow and possibly hit our house.

I talked with our insurance guy (Texas Farm Bureau Insurance) today.  All he knew was that "the river is still rising."   He assured me that I should notify him if water enters the house and he'll file a claim immediately.  Wow.

Katy, Friday, September 1, 2017, 10:30 PM

A fairly routine day.    We're still camping out at Sarah's place in Katy.  

I went shopping this morning for a few odd supplies.  Biggest Walmart I've ever seen.   Tried to stop at nearby McDonald's to pick up lunch for the gang ... still closed except for the drive-thru ... there must have been a dozen cars in the drive-thru line ... gave up on that idea.

Then Ann and Sarah went shopping at H-E-B for groceries.  Sarah went to work today for a few hours at Alley Theater, but couldn't do anything because of the flooding.  Clint went to work for a few hours for a meeting.   Chicken and corn-on-cob for dinner.  

All in all, everything is going well except that Sarah's dog Pepper won't accept our dog Robbie and tries to attack him.    As Sarah noted on Facebook: "Poor Pepper. First she got infested with kittens, and now there's another DOG in her house!"

Speaking of those kittens...

Not sure the kittens actually want of be covered up.

Katy, Friday, September 1, 2017, 7:30 PM

The Alley Theater, where Sarah has worked for almost twenty years, has been flooded again.  The previous flood was from Tropical Storm Allison in 2001.  From Sarah's Facebook:

• One of the gems of Houston's vaunted arts district have been swamped by floods from nearby Buffalo Bayou and face significant repairs, threatening the fall performance season that would have begun next week.   The Alley Theatre, which completed a $46.5 million renovation just two years ago, appears to have suffered the most damage so far, although arts companies will not be able to fully assess the destruction for a week or more.  Venturing into the Alley with a flashlight on Monday, managing director Dean Gladden found water slapping at the ceiling of the downstairs Neuhaus Stage and its lobby. Those same spaces were submerged in 2001 during flooding from Tropical Storm Allison, forcing them to be gutted and renovated for $4 million.  "You can't drain it. You can only pump the water, but it's already up to the ceiling as high as it can go," Gladden said.  The basement level dressing rooms are also submerged -- and, most importantly, the [electrical] power supply for the whole building.

The Costume Shop, where Sarah works, is on one of the upper floors.  Even though it was not affected by flooding, she can't do anything because there's no power.

Katy, Thursday August 31, 2017, 8:30 PM

Perfect weather today!   Ann and I sat out on the back deck watching Robbie chase squirrels and doves.  

Robbie the Mighty Squirrel Hunter 

Robbie Rosco Dog McLain

Owen

Neal, photographed by Owen

Sarah, Ann, and the boys play board games as Robbie snoozes.

Robbie and Ann

Owen, Clint, Nathan

Sleepy Robbie

Sleepy kitties Ruby and Marble

Katy, Thursday August 31, 2017, 3:00 AM

Yesterday (Wednesday) was a busy day for us.  Ann and Sarah went shopping and came back with a pile of groceries purchased at H-E-B, our local supermarket chain.  They report that the meat department is just getting organized, and that many items are not in stock.  

Robbie, the boys, and I went for a walk limited to sidewalk only (I have difficulty walking on uneven surfaces so we stayed on sidewalk ... artifact of my titanium knee).

I went out looking for a new copy of the DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer for Texas ... I figured Academy would certainly stock it.  No such luck.  Academy doesn't even stock Texas state maps!  Counter guy says everybody uses GPS now.  Ok, fine.  But GPS doesn't work when numerous streets and closed due to flooding.

Clint went to work for a few hours ... first time his company has been open since Harvey hit.

Sarah's employer -- the Alley Theater -- is all but shut down due to flooding ... entire lower level, including one of the performance spaces, is flooded.  
https://www.alleytheatre.org/tropical-storm-harvey

Sarah prepared a wonderful dinner involving shrimp and pineapple. 

And we all watched a lot of television ... mostly hurricane coverage or kid cartoons.  Cable service package doesn't include MSNBC -- I miss Morning Joe!

Katy, Tuesday August 29, 2017, 7:00 PM

Some photos...

Owen and Ann, playing City Maze 

Nathan and Owen watching "educational" television

This must be educational!

Poor Robbie had to stay in his crate!

Dabney Manor Lane, Katy, Texas, August 29, late afternoon.
Katy escaped most of the flooding.
And by now it's all dried up except for the gutters.

Wind damage is much in evidence.

The playground at the clubhouse is still flooded.

Swimming pool looks normal.

High water mark

Back deck behind the house is still flooded.
But that doesn't affect Robbie's duties as resident squirrel monitor.

Clint, my son-in-law and the guy that fixes my computer whenever I screw it up.

Katy, Tuesday August 29, 2017, 1:00 PM

Well we made it to Katy yesterday.  We're now staying with our daughter Sarah and her family -- husband Clint, sons Nathan (8) and Owen (6), dog Pepper (a rescue from hurricane Katrina), and two cats (sisters Ruby and Marble).

Our trip from Brazoria to Katy took far longer than normal due to numerous roads closed due to flooding.  After several false starts, we managed to get over to SH-99 (modestly known as "The Grand Parkway"), headed north, crossed under I-10 with no problem, and got to Sarah's place ten minutes later.

Since then we've been keeping an eye on Houston TV stations for flood news (with several interruptions for kid cartoons).  News from southern Brazoria County is scant so we still don't know what's going on.  According to NOAA the big bulge in the Brazos river caused by upstream rainfall hasn't arrived in Brazoria yet.  When it hits we've been told that it will overflow and join overflow from the San Bernard to create a continuous river-to-river sheet of floodwater.   If that happens it will definitely hit our house.  

Here's NOAA's prediction for Richmond.  Whatever happens in Richmond will hit Brazoria a day or two later.

More photos coming soon.

Brazoria, Monday August 28, 2017, 8:30 AM

We're about to pack the car and head north.  How far we get is a mystery.

This is the last post on this blog until/unless I have access to another computer or buy an iPhone.

Over and out.

Brazoria, Monday August 28, 2017, 7:00 AM

We're going to have to evacuate.   County says both rivers --- the Brazos and the San Bernard --- will overflow creating a sheet of water from river-to-river.   We're now under a mandatory evac order:

• Brazoria County - County Judge Matt Sebesta has issued a MANDATORY EVACUATION for all residents living WEST of State Highway 288 and SOUTH of State Highway 6. Refer to attached map.
  An evacuation route has been established for State Highway 35 Westbound to Matagorda County to Northbound State Highway 71 reaching Interstate 10. Refer to map. THERE ARE NO OTHER EVACUATION ROUTES OUT OF BRAZORIA COUNTY. State Highway 35 WILL NOT be open indefinitely and will be unpassable with additional rains and river flooding. LEAVE NOW! Residents needing a place to go can shelter in Bell County. Self-Evacuation destination in Bell County will be the EXPO CENTER, 301 West Loop, Belton, Texas. Pets are welcome!

So that means we have to drive north on SH 36 to West Columbia before we can even get to to SH 35.  But no word on the status of SH 36.  

Brazoria, Sunday August 27, 2017, 4:00 PM

No rain since this morning and water in the yard is subsiding.   Hopefully it's flowing down the ditches into the Brazos River.

The Brazos is now 0.02 feet above historic crest and still rising.  If it keeps rising and overflows water may back up in the ditches.

Brazoria, Sunday August 27, 2017, 12:00 PM

Intermittent rain all morning.  Ditches flooded and overflowing onto adjacent lawns.  Maybe we should evacuate, but where?   Heading to Katy at this point would be impossible -- all road are either closed due to flooding or jammed with traffic   Furthermore Katy is getting even more rain that we are.  .
  

Brazoria County Road 912A, looking northeast

Overflowing ditch

Side Yard

The Toyota, parked, ready to roll if we decide to go anywhere

The Ford and the Toyota

Robbie, anxious to go along if we go anywhere

Robbie

Robbie, water up to his tummy

Back inside, and a chance to dry off.

Brazoria, Sunday August 27, 2017, 7:00 AM

well it rained all night with occasional howling winds.  Ditches are full, some of the front yard is flooded.  But the flooding doesn't come near the front door.

Brazos River is rising rapidly due to heavy rainfall upstream.  Here's NOAA's report at Richmond,  as of 5:15 AM today.  If it rises further we may have a problem.