'Looks almost like a science fiction movie': Cleanup efforts begin in Texas following catastrophic flooding event

'Looks almost like a science fiction movie': Cleanup efforts begin in Texas following catastrophic flooding event
Source: https://www.alaskasnewssource.com

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - It has been one week since deadly flooding occurred in Kerr County, Texas, leaving over 100 people dead.

President Donald Trump saw the devastation caused by the catastrophic flooding firsthand. The president took an aerial tour of some of the hardest-hit locations and received updates from local officials, as cleanup efforts continue.

Alaska's News Source has been following the flooding, speaking with volunteers who are on the ground, survivors of the flooding, and Alaska officials who say they are on standby should the request for aid come in.

According to Jeremy Zidek, public information officer for Alaska's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the request for aid has been filed but not accepted by the state of Texas.

"Texas has requested a Volunteer Agency Liaison to deploy for two weeks," Zidek explained in an email statement. "We have offered one of our staff members, but Texas has not accepted the offer. This could happen at any time or not at all. It just depends on what Texas needs.
"In the past, we have seen a requesting state delay the deployment so they can staff the mission over a longer period. Many times, the disaster survivors need support for months and sometimes years."

Alaska's News Source reached out to the American Red Cross of Alaska to see if any staff members from their team have made their way to Texas. At this time, none have been sent.

On the ground in Texas, volunteer crews with the nonprofit Texans on Mission have begun the work of helping residents clean up the damage left by the fast-moving flood.

"It looks almost like a science fiction movie; you have uprooted trees everywhere; you have homes that are gone from their foundation," Texans on Mission Special Projects Coordinator Russ Dilday said.

Dilday reports seeing boulders on the road and roads caved in. He said he's amazed by the amount of damage that the storm caused, all while the people of Kerr County start work to restore their homes.

"Everyone is super concerned, just like we are with getting the mud and muck out of their homes. It's a toxic mix; you've got pesticides; you've got waste material," Dilday said.
"I'm sorry we can't do a scratch and sniff interview because the smell is getting a little tough right now."

The teams on the ground have retrieved their flat-bottom shovels to begin cleaning up the mixtures from their homes, all while the memory of the flood has left the people of Texas with trauma they'll never forget.

"A helicopter goes over, a car door slams, something falls and we all jump," Dilday explained.
"They're experiencing the trauma of loss; some of these families are still experiencing the trauma of loss of a loved one."

The sense in the community is that the worst is over, and they will look toward the future to rebuild.

It will be a slow and steady process; a process that could take years, Dilday says.

"On this scale, months is what everyone's predicting, and that just includes the cleanup for the most part," he said.
"The rebuilding ... it may take years there; there's just so much infrastructure that has been destroyed."