Volunteers across Texas rush to help flood recovery efforts in Center Point
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texans are driving from across the state to support clean-up efforts in Center Point, the site of disastrous flooding over Independence Day weekend.
Austinite Drew Fish decided to volunteer after seeing reports on the extensive flooding damage in Kerr County. But Fish said he did not fully understand the severity of the destruction until he arrived on Monday.
"Whatever you see on the news — pictures, videos and stuff — it can’t really fully comprehend the amount of water that came through here and the devastation that was caused," he said.
Center Point, just downstream of where the floods began, was the center of various search and rescue missions over the weekend. At least 89 people have died in the floods, and authorities are still searching for those missing in numerous counties across Central Texas.
Fish said that despite the devastation, he was heartened to see how many people came to support the recovery efforts.
“There are people who drove up from Mexico to help search and rescue. You’ve got people from Houston, from Austin, from Dallas." Fish said. "People have really shown up and supported the community."
Volunteers, including KXAN's Nabil Remadna, spent the day searching through debris and clearing downed trees. Chris Carson drove from Dallas with his wife to help the city recover. He spent the day removing debris from the flooded zones — an effort he said was made possible by another concerned Texan.
"We posted on the way here from Dallas to say 'Hey, we need a Skid Steer. I have a trailer and can come pick it up,' and within 45 minutes we had a Skid Steer locked down in Austin," Carson said.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, Fish said that the strength and solidarity of Texans helps him remain hopeful for the future.
“You hear all of the chaos in the world and it’s really just a breath of fresh air that everybody’s out here, putting in time and work, trying to help the community however they can," he said.