KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
August 29, 2022
By Natalie Cook Clark
Five years ago, Katy was still taking on water from the non-stop rain from Hurricane Harvey. The storm ended up being the costliest storm to hit Texas at $125 billion dollars’ worth of damages, much of that was in Katy.
Katy iconic restaurant Snappy's flooded like so many businesses and homes did during Hurricane Harvey.
5 Years Ago Katy was Still Flooded from Harvey
Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on August 25, 2017, but the devastation to the Katy area continued to be ongoing 5 years ago today as the storm stalled dumping over 50 inches of rain.
“Looking back at my Facebook memories, I realize how long ago it now seems,” says Katy mom and flood victim Gretchen Smith. “I learned that I’m good in a crisis! It’s part of our story, but it no longer stops us in our tracks.”
13 million people were affected by Hurricane Harvey when it stalled out over the Greater Houston area. The storm was one of the most devastating natural disasters in Texas history.
“Hurricane Harvey was a tragedy, but everyone adults, kids, churches, and every organization pulled together to help our community and neighbors,” says City of Katy Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris.
The City of Katy experienced massive damage including sustained damage to 16 Katy ISD campuses. Due to extreme flooding, Creech Elementary had to relocate its 900 students and staff had to be relocated. In less than a week, Katy ISD moved the Creech students and staff to the University of Houston’s Cinco Ranch campus.
Countless families were displaced from evacuations and flooding as both the Addicks Reservoir and Barker Cypress Reservoir overflowed with flood waters. The city of Katy reported over nearly 14,000 FEMA claims.
Katy Residents Should Stay Prepared in Hurricane Season
While the gulf has been mostly inactive so far this Hurricane Season, Katy residents understand well that that can change at anytime. The city is prepared for a storm and urges residents to always stay prepared and ahead of a potential crisis.
“We’ve been focused on ensuring that our City of Katy Departments are prepared to respond to any type of impact from tropical weather as safely and quickly as possible,” says Greg Goedecker, Emergency Management Coordinator of the City of Katy. “We want the community to know that our public safety departments continue to spend time training and discussing response strategies. All our city resources and rescue assets are ready to respond if called upon.”
City of Katy Checklist
Harvey Heroes
So many people and organizations came out to help support Katyites in their time of need. Read about the many Harvey Heroes spotlighted by Katy Magazine.
“Hurricane Harvey will always be something that bonds me to neighbors, the shared experience of evacuating, returning to a broken house, everyone’s belongings on the curb, repairs, and finally being past it,” says Smith.
Look back at these tragic pictures that show the story of Hurricane Harvey’s devastation to the Katy area.
Hurricane Harvey in Pictures
Katy Creek Ranch Rescue
Near Seven Lakes High School
Meadow Green subdivision
99 and 529
