While floodwaters rushed into homes during Hurricane Harvey, answers about reimbursement have taken much longer. After years of waiting, homeowners finally got a decision this week.
"If you add up all the $6 or $8 billion dollar cases I've tried in my life, this is by far the biggest case I've ever had the privilege of touching," attorney Jack McGhee said.
For years, McGhee, Richard Mithoff, and Rand Nolen have represented clients whose homes flooded during Hurricane Harvey, downstream from the Addicks and Barker reservoirs. They estimate that nearly 10,000 homes and businesses were affected after the federal government released water.
"Some homes were totally destroyed," McGhee explained. "Some homes had four or five feet of standing water."
At first, McGhee said, a judge ruled against them. They appealed and won.
Last year, their case went to trial. This week, the judge ruled against the government.
McGhee said the government did nothing wrong. He explained that the judge decided homeowners should be compensated because their property was affected and they did not receive any payment.
"It's like if they're building a highway to Dallas, the government can come in and take the property, but they have to pay the homeowners," McGhee said. "This was just the opposite."
McGhee believes this decision could affect more than just their clients in these communities. Because it was a federal case, he thinks it will set a national precedent for future flooding events, helping people not only in southeast Texas but across the country.
Regarding compensation, McGhee said they estimate $8 billion in damages. He says it may take months before a final financial decision is made.
After waiting nearly nine years for this week's decision, a little more time is needed. "We couldn't have had a better outcome than what the judge provided us yesterday," McGhee said.
Eyewitness News contacted the federal government about this decision, but did not receive a response.
Attorneys say that even when clients had flood insurance, it did not cover all damages, though it did help. If you want to protect yourself this hurricane season, consider getting flood insurance soon.
Flood insurance takes 30 days to become active.