Planting trees brings new life to ravaged flood area

It’s been almost three years since the deadly Memorial Day floods that ravaged parts of Wimberley County and took the life of nearly a dozen people.

Hundreds of homes were also destroyed along with wildlife in the floods.

People in Hays County are still recovering from the deadly flood today.

Saturday students and community members came together to help bring back life into areas affected by the flood.

Tollie Bernard’s said his families land was severely impacted by the flood.

“This whole land over was a Pecan Grove and there were tree’s everywhere down here. And all of that was just wiped out,” said Bernard.

He said thousands of trees were wiped away from his parent’s property in the 2015 deadly Wimberley flooding.

Three years later, his land still hasn’t quite recovered.

“It was pretty incredible event to see the size of the trees floating by cars RV’s,” said Bernard.

He said he can still remember the disaster as if it was yesterday. Especially, the sounds of rushing water.

“It was like a roar like a train going by it was constant,” said Bernard.

But today, he’s thankful for the dozens of volunteers that came out to lend a hand and plant a seed.

Students from Texas A & M traveled more than 100 miles to help out their San Marcos neighbors. All in hopes that the trees will help bring life back into the community.

“When something like that happens it really draws people together, especially Texans, were like a special breed of people,” said Matthew Sadoval.

And help with any future flooding.

“The trees will be there not just to clean storm water that runs into the river but also to slow future floods and provide habitat for wildlife,” said Thais Perkins executive director of Tree Folks.

Over a hundred Cypress trees were planted all which were native to the area.

“The fact that the trees come from here to be planted here and that the people who have grown up here are also rooted here I think binds the two together. Is part of why replacing the tree’s is so healing,” said Perkins.

Bernard said despite the work that still needs to be done to the land, his family, will always be rooted here.

“I’m very thankful for these guys coming out. It’s very humbling to have people come out to your property to help you try to recover the land,” said Bernard.