“We have moved in our debris contractors and they will be out in areas as soon as water allows,” Fort Bend County Judge Robert Hebert said in a briefing Wednesday evening.
City and county authorities recommend that residents take photographs of any damage to their property prior to beginning cleanup or repairs. Any damage to property should be reported via the appropriate survey link below. According to the Waller County website, completing these surveys will provide the data needed to quickly submit the reports required to be qualified for FEMA assistance.
City of Katy: www.surveymonkey.com/r/katyflooding
Harris County: http://www.readyharris.org
Fort Bend County: http://fbcoem.org/report-damage/
Waller County: www.surveymonkey.com/r/QMKHVLM
Fulshear and Incorporated Katy
The incorporated city of Katy does not yet have a date that pickup will begin for debris, but has asked that residents prepare debris as indicated in the flyers posted at the bottom of this story. Unsorted materials will not be picked up.
All debris should be sorted into vegetative debris, construction and demolition debris, appliances, electronics and household hazardous waste. Once sorted, debris should be placed at the edge of your property before the curb. Debris should be neatly piled and not stacked where mailboxes, hydrants or other obstacles may make retrieval difficult for the debris contractor.
Regular household trash should be disposed of per your neighborhood’s trash schedule.
Harris County
Harris County is working to remove debris from roadways and residential neighborhoods and is prioritizing public roads and other infrastructure at this time. The county recommends that property owners beginning cleanup should:
- Be aware of damaged water, gas, and electric lines.
- Be aware of damaged building and construction materials.
- Do not attempt major tree work or reconstruction without proper equipment, permits, and training.
- Be aware of household hazardous waste and contaminants.
- Report hazardous materials spills to the Harris County Pollution Control Services Department at 713-920-2831.
Residents of Harris County with questions about debris cleanup should call the Harris County Residential Debris and Damage Assessment Hotline at 713-274-3880.
Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County indicated by email that the county’s efforts are still primarily focused on rescue and evacuation operations. Recovery resources are expected to be posted to the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management’s website soon.
Fort Bend County has put forth the following guidelines for anyone returning to their homes:
- If you experienced flooding above the electrical outlets in your home, contact a licensed electrician before turning on the main circuit breaker or trying to restore power.
- All electrical appliances and electronic equipment that have been submerged in water need to dry thoroughly for at least one week. Then, have them checked by a qualified repair person before turning them on. Attempting to repair a flood-damaged appliance could result in electrical shock or death. Attempting to restart it could result in further damage and costly repairs.
- If the outside unit of an air conditioning system has been under water, mud and water may have accumulated in the controls. Have the unit checked by a qualified air conditioning technician.
- Stay away from downed power lines. Be especially mindful of downed lines that could be hidden in flood waters and treat all downed lines as if they are energized.
- Once away from the area, call CenterPoint Energy and we will respond as soon as it is safe to do so.
Waller County
Waller County has not finalized any plans regarding debris cleanup according to County Judge Trey Duhon’s office. The commissioners’ court is expected to meet next Wednesday to approve debris disposal expenditures.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
