The Barker Reservoir protected their home … until it didn’t

Posted 12:40 p.m.

Kari Konikowski Blackman’s husband called her as the couple drove their two cars down Beltway 8. They couldn’t make it to Austin. Highway 290 was flooded. Konikowski Blackman choked up. “I need to remember what’s important,” she said.

Her husband. Her two children in the backseat of her SUV. Her dogs in her husband’s car. Her parents who were safe in Michigan.

And she turned her car around and headed back to the house that officials on Sunday night had encouraged her to leave.

Konikowski Blackman, 38, and her husband, Nick Blackman, 38, bought their house in Kelliwood Estates, west of Katy, because it didn’t flood.

The Barker Reservoir protected their neighborhood, off of Fry Road, from high water. Until it didn’t. As record rainfall hit Harris County over the weekend, Sunday night, officials announced they would slowly release water out of the overwhelmed Addicks and Barker reservoirs, leaving thousands of homes, including Konikowski Blackman’s, devastated for up to three months.

Sunday evening, the streets of the Blackmans’ close-knit, suburban neighborhood were dry. Their house had power.

The couple sat down to dinner with their 4-year-old son and 1½-year-old daughter. They talked about how fortunate they were.

Then, a television reporter announced their neighborhood was under voluntary evacuation.

An image of carrying her toddler through waist-deep water flashed before Konikowski Blackman’s eyes.

She turned to her husband. “Are they really going to flood our area on purpose?” The answer appeared to be yes. Authorities advised residents to hold off leaving until daylight.

So, the Blackmans spent one last night in their home.

They lugged furniture up to their second floor. The piled a couch on top of a coffee table and pillows on top of dining room chairs.

Konikowski Blackman put her wedding china and silverware on top of one of the highest stacks.

“Your whole life changes with one report,” she said.

The family hit the road at 9:30 a.m. Monday. Nick Blackman led the way in the couple’s Honda Accord.

Konikowski Blackman followed in their SUV.

They were headed to Konikowski Blackman’s parents’ vacation home on Lake Travis.

Konikowski Blackman’s rain boots were in the front seat of her car.

A laundry hamper full of bread, eggs, bananas, apples and a cooler full of refrigerated food were in the back.

Her kids had their school backpacks next to them.

The couple’s laptops were piled in the car as well.

They didn’t know what the roads would be like. Blackman said if he saw any water, he would stop his car. Konikowski Blackman would follow suit.

First, they tried Interstate 10. The westbound lanes were flooded.

So they re-routed, to Beltway 8 and then to 290.

Beltway 8 appeared passable. Konikowski Blackman was optimistic. She passed half a dozen other cars.

She didn’t know what would happen to their home. But, at least her family was okay.

“If my kids are safe, my husband is safe, the dogs are with us, who cares,” Konikowski Blackman said.

Her husband called once — she missed the call. He called again. Then, he stopped. Both routes to Austin were blocked. The couple turned around.

Konikowski Blackman thought Mayor Sylvester Turner made the right call when he told people to stick out the hurricane.

But, once authorities recommended she leave her home, she wished they told her how.

“There’s no way to get our family out,” Konikowski Blackman said.