The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will release water from the flood-swollen Addicks and Barker reservoirs, a move that is expected to flood additional homes. But officials say the controlled release is necessary to limit the scope of the disaster.
The release will cause a rise of 4 to 6 inches per hour in Buffalo Bayou and will cause more water to flow both upstream and downstream.
Some residents near the reservoirs are being asked to leave their homes, but the Corps of Engineers stressed that the evacuations were not mandatory. Officials have released maps showing the areas likely to be affected.
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