Residents claim county abandons them in time of need

Like the rising creek water, that destroyed everything in its path, anger floods Thoroughbred Farms.

"I'm tired of having that ((expletive)) there," says Alice Vallejo, adding,"the mailman asked us where's the county why haven't they picked up the trash."

Her frustration at a fever pitch, "Now we are going to have rats and snakes and everything."

Robert Quintero says his lawn is still littered with debris. "They had sent out a paper saying that on February 12, would be the last day we pick up trashes from everyone's yard," he explains. "The next day came it was February 12, no one ever came out to pick up anything and for the week before that they had sent trucks to pick up stuff from the front yards."

A month later, the lingering trash a permanent reminder of their daily struggle.

"It does stay with you, all the tragedy and devastation and the disaster," says Travis County Deputy Chief Constable Manuel Jimenez. He should know, he's been here from the beginning, "before you couldn't stand here because there were RV's turned over, cars turned over."

And he says he's in it for the long haul. "When we see the frustration we try to get them help and try to work on it."

The 44 year-old, who mounted a failed bid for Constable, is organizing a volunteer clean-up for Sunday. "It's part of my job, I'm a public servant that's what I've chosen to do, and my job is helping people."

Especially the people who feel like their hope is being washed away by yet another downpour

They are looking for more volunteers, and additional equipment for the clean-up.

The Commissioner Court is actually the group responsible for making decisions about the trash pick-up. We reached out to the Precinct 4's Commissioner Margaret Gomez who declined to speak to on camera. But she did send a statement: