Brazoria family makes best out of sewage issue after Harvey

BRAZORIA, Texas (KTRK) -- While thousands of people decided to leave their homes in Houston and surrounding areas due to Hurricane Harvey, there are some families who stayed, despite mandatory evacuations.

Jonathan Baggett and his family live in Brazoria. They are located almost directly between the Brazos and San Bernard Rivers.

Brazoria County emergency officials issued a mandatory evacuation two weeks ago for several areas in the county and while many homes near the rivers were flooded with several feet of water, Baggett said his neighborhood was spared.

"Although our neighborhood hasn't taken on any water from the flooding parts of our city has, our water treatment plant in Brazoria is completely under water from the San Bernard River," Baggett said.

That means people who were able to stay in their homes could use the water, but the sewage system was not working.

Baggett said he and his family didn't leave when a mandatory evacuation was issued because they didn't have the finances to travel elsewhere. So to make their lives a little bearable, he and his wife, Nakita Baggett, built a makeshift shower and kitchen area outside of their home so they could stay as long as possible.

"We have two small children who love their bath time. We are able to shower, wash dishes and wash our hands all outside. We have a bathroom bucket set up as well because we can't use the toilets right now," Baggett said.

It was a creative and temporary solution they hope does not last long.

"We're making it work for our family."

At last check, Baggett said the treatment plant is no longer under water, but the sewage system is still not working for them.

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