Fort Bend County flood victims begin cleanup process

ByLauren Lea KTRK logo
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Fort Bend County flood victims begin cleanup process
In Richmond, people are starting to rip up their homes to clean up the damage.

RICHMOND, TX (KTRK) -- The floodwater has started to recede from many homes in Fort Bend County, leaving behind a big mess.

The Rivers Edge neighborhood in Richmond was once at the bottom of the Brazos River this week, and everything that got wet now has to go.

The water may be receding, but residents in Ft. Bend aren't out of the woods just yet.

Warped wood floors were ripped out plank by plank and soggy carpet was torn out and tossed to the curb. Right in the middle of the recovery efforts came the most unwelcome sight: more rain.

"We're looking forward to a vacation of sunshine after all of this is said and done," laughed Kristin Cooley.

Cooley and her husband were ripping out drywall of their very first home. They're down to the studs throughout because 8 inches of water invaded indoors.

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Cooley described the week as a roller coaster.

"I think the first day was much more emotional because you don't know what you're going to lose and thankfully, we had enough time to put a lot of stuff up in the attic," she said.

Their neighbors behind them are still underwater and as bad as their home looks, they know it could have been much worse.

"We definitely feel very fortunate because we compare ourselves to the people that are in Simonton that got several feet of water in their homes," Clayton Cooley said. "Looking at it from that stand point, we are very fortunate."

One good thing to come out of all of the flooding: Volunteers and neighbors who didn't flood are helping the flood victims and working their way through the area to help.