Less than a month after Houston took a devastating hit from Hurricane Harvey, Houston residents are bringing to light yet another major problem. Thousands of businesses and houses were intentionally flooded, due to a decision made by government officials to release an unprecedented amount of water into the Buffalo Bayou. On the early morning of August 28, 2017, the controlled release of water from the Addicks and Barker reservoirs flooded about 4,000 homes in the surrounding areas, sadly forcing thousands of families to evacuate their homes.
Several well-known Texas plaintiffs firms are jumping on the opportunity to file Harvey class action suits. In a number of class action suits, plaintiffs’ are seeking compensation for severe property damage. These Houston residents claim their property was deliberately and unlawfully taken from them violating their Fifth Amendment rights. The Army Corps of Engineers made a calculated decision to flood a number of homes, in order to prevent water from reaching mass neighborhoods in the surrounding areas. The question circling the Harvey lawsuits is, who is to pay for the saving of the masses? Many believe it is the moral responsibility of the government to help those that were affected by this decision, whether the Fifth Amendment is considered or not. A vast majority of the affected properties were not covered by flood insurance, as they are not located on a floodplain. The scenario is obviously a troubling one for the homeowners involved, as they are struggling to put their lives back together. It will be interesting to see how the government handles this situation and these claims.
If you or a loved one has been affected by the flood, the law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner can assist with your claim. Call us today at (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211 for your free consultation.