Corps: Agency worked to inform on Harvey flood risk
HOUSTON — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Friday that leading up to and during Hurricane Harvey it “worked diligently” with officials to inform the public on flooding risks from Houston reservoirs that ended up inundating thousands of homes.
The Corps’ statement came in response to a Houston Chronicle report earlier this week that the agency failed to share with the public a forecast ahead of Harvey’s arrival predicting that Barker and Addicks reservoirs would flood adjacent neighbourhoods.
The Corps’ forecast was made Aug. 24, the day before Harvey made landfall in South Texas.
Fort Bend County officials didn’t issue a flood advisory for areas adjacent to Barker until Aug. 26, the day Harvey — downgraded to a tropical storm by then — had made its way to Houston.