Flood damaged neighborhood gives thanks

Two weeks ago, FOX 7 told you about a Southeast Austin neighborhood ravaged by the Halloween floods, and their strong need for help. Now, on Thanksgiving Day, residents are thanking the community for all their hard work, and for giving them a fresh start.

Evette Miles lost a lot of items dear to her, when her home flooded. It's never happened to her before in her 27 years living there.

"What happened here that day, never," Miles said.

Since the flood, her family, along with the community, has been helping fix the house.

"I have some of my sons and my brother in-law and my brother helping me kind of put my house back together," she said.

As Miles and her family continued to clean up on Thanksgiving, they got a surprise visit from a couple of good Samaritans.

“We were out this way last weekend helping out with Austin Disaster Relief and really felt the need to come back in the essence of Thanksgiving and make sure everyone was taken care of," B.A. Snyder, volunteer, said.

Snyder and her boyfriend decided to come out early in the morning and spend their holiday helping others who may not feel like their house is a home.

"It's important to find that balance of celebrating what you have as well as making sure others around you are taken care of," Snyder said.

Though they've lost so much, the families here believe things could have been worse.

"I'm grateful that I still have my family, and I still have a home that I can come to," Miles said.

“I have a roof, I still have my home, so I'm very thankful. We did receive help from the community," Antonio Monterroso, resident, said.

News that FEMA is stepping in to help these flood victims is music to their ears. They haven't lost hope, and are grateful to be alive this Thanksgiving.

"There's nothing important like life, you have to be thankful to God that you have it," Miles said.

Find out if you’re eligible for assistance at http://www.disasterassistance.gov