The rain has stopped, but west-side residents watch in horror, helpless as the water rises

Posted 7 p.m.

While much of Houston rejoiced at the sight of receding waters Wednesday, residents of westside neighborhoods downstream from the Barker and Addicks reservoirs watched in horror as the water rose — covering their streets and sluicing into some houses.

On one block after another in neighborhoods near Memorial and Wilcrest, people climbed into boats that took them to retrieve belongings from their newly flooded homes.

Several said the water began rising late Tuesday and early Wednesday, even as Harvey moved out of the Houston area.

Residents said they were certain the flooding was caused by controlled releases from the Barker reservoir, just west of their neighborhoods.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the reservoirs, said the release of record amounts of water into Buffalo Bayou was necessary to lower their water levels. Neighborhoods west of the dams also are flooding.

David Miller said his house in the Wilchester subdivision had not flooded since he moved into it in 2006.

“Not a drop,” he said, adding that he was convinced the dam releases were the cause of his neighborhood’s flooding. “I guess they chose who had to flood, I don’t know.”

A few blocks west, Sherri Tefft, wearing wading boots, stood in the street watching water creep toward the front door of the house her father built in 1977. The home never previously flooded, she said.

“I understand they need to release water, but they need to plan it better,” Tefft said.