The floodwaters are gone, but volunteers say families across the Hill Country still need help clearing debris and rebuilding their lives.
AUSTIN, Texas — The frantic search and rescue response to the devastating July floods in South Texas and the Hill Country has given way to a new phase: recovery.
Weeks after floodwaters swept through communities across the region, volunteers with Austin Disaster Relief Network spent the weekend helping families clear debris, salvage belongings and begin rebuilding their lives.
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When the flooding first hit, Lt. Dalton Ray with the Austin Fire Department was among the first crews deployed to some of the hardest-hit areas.
“Flying in, we could tell there was lots of debris, lots of damage,” Ray said. “We had reports of folks stuck in trees, luckily it seemed like all that had been resolved, but you could definitely tell a significant amount of water had moved through that community.”
Now, volunteers are stepping in to help homeowners recover what they can.
“This was the first time that we did a clean-up effort,” volunteer Christina with Austin Disaster Relief Network said. “I took my son along with me, and so his first time also witnessing, you know, how people are effected.”
“Going into the homes, just seeing them completely gutted,” she added. “I know that I have an area where I keep track of my son’s height, and just imagining all those little things that are so important, being completely taken down and removed. So it was hard to see.”
Associate Director Stephen Brewer said many families are facing overwhelming challenges long after the floodwaters receded.
“We ended up going to help another family, a woman named Jane,” Brewer said. “Her story is, she lost her husband three months before this happened. He built the house they were in 30 years ago. It never flooded like this, and now she is trying to restore it all alone.”
Brewer said recovery efforts will continue for months, and organizations are still looking for volunteers willing to help.
“They’re hurting for volunteers. They need help,” Brewer said. “And even we’re a few hours away, we’re going to do our best to rally Austin to get as many people down there as possible.”
Ray said volunteers play an important role in helping communities recover after disasters.
“Volunteerism here is super important to go down there and help those folks with that recovery and that clean-up because there is tons of stuff — tons of debris, tons of stuff that needs to be cleaned up in those communities,” Ray said.
People interested in volunteering or donating can learn more through Austin Disaster Relief Network.
Flood victims looking for assistance should first contact their insurance company if they have coverage, then document all damage with photos, videos and receipts. Texans can also report storm damage through the state’s Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool.