Thoroughbred Farms neighborhood gets help with debris clean up

Sunday, neighbors at Thoroughbred Farms, who had piles of flood debris and no way to get rid of it, got some help from volunteers.

About a dozen volunteers with the Travis Austin Recovery Group picked up piles of trash around the Southeast Travis County neighborhood.

Now, people in other parts of the County are hoping to get help with their flood debris.

Pamela Wilson said every time it floods in Del Valle her yard fills up with a lot more than water.

“This is all trash that doesn't belong to me,” said Wilson.

Wilson said she contacted Travis County, FEMA, church groups and anyone else she can think of, but hasn't been able to find help to clean up the sky high piles of trash that litter her property.

“I don't have anybody to help me move it. Even if I ask for help it's like the County just doesn't want to come out,” Wilson said. 

A&R Demolition gave her a price quote of $8,000 to clean up the area, a price tag too steep for her to afford.

“If I get help, I have to get the money out of my own pocket, which being on disability there's not enough money for it,” said Wilson. 

Travis County said they can't remove debris on private property or in creeks. That's why volunteers with TARG are working together to remove trash in the Thoroughbred Farms neighborhood.

“This Thoroughbred Farms had devastation on the October flood, and the dumpsters had been picked up that were provided by the county, and unfortunately a lot of the people were delayed getting the permitting and starting construction,” said TARG executive director Dick Perrone.

After just three hours of collecting debris, the dumpster which TARG paid for, was completely full.

“We'll probably have to replace this with another dumpster because it filled up pretty fast,” Perrone said. 

Even after the clean-up effort, there are stacks of debris at homes throughout the neighborhood.

“We’re also asking the County if they will come at least do another pick up. The County had picked up all their dumpsters a few months ago,” Perrone said.

TARG said they help clean up debris at different areas in the County.

“This was such a major impact and a concentration of debris that we felt it needed a priority,” said Perrone. 

Wilson is hoping her neighborhood is next in line.

“I just need the help to get this stuff cleaned up,” Wilson said. 

TARG does encourage anyone with flood related issues in Travis County to contact them for help. They are a nonprofit and operate on donations. TARG said they have been active not only with debris clean up, but also city buyouts after the floods, and studies regarding the creeks.