Judge Clay Jenkins is live tweeting his assessment of the recent storm and flood damage throughout the day in various towns of Dallas County.
Jenkins went out with members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Dallas County Homeland Security and Emergency Management to residential areas and businesses. The team began the day in Grand Prairie and have continued on to Garland, Irving, Coppell, Carrollton and Mesquite.
Monday, Jenkins and the team will review damage to public parks and roads, according to an interview with KERA News reporter, Stella Chavez.
Jenkins says he's seen "significant" damage so far, with water lines close to 6 feet high on the walls of some homes.
"We're trying to show a certain threshold of damage that will open up a presidential declaration to get our citizens reimbursement and more help," Jenkins said.
Jenkins says seeing the damage is "heartbreaking."
Three feet of water costs thousands in damages
Chavez also spoke with Garland council member and resident, Billy Mack Williams. He and his wife were in their home during the major flooding two weeks ago when water started coming in his back door, he says.
They had to reach higher ground in their attic and stayed there for two and a half hours, he says. They soon saw their furniture floating around because 3.5 feet of water had made it inside, he says.
Williams with the help of some friends have cleared about 75 percent of the house. He estimates about a $100,000 loss. Luckily, he has flood insurance.
Because they live in a flood zone, with Duck Creek behind the house, the threat of flooding is always present with heavy rains. The house flooded before he bought it in 1991 and again in 2006, he says.
"One inch [of water] is way too much in a house."
Here are few photos Jenkins has taken of water damage:
Major damage at house in @garlandtxgov pic.twitter.com/s4aM2sd2Gp
— Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) June 12, 2015
More residential damage from flooding in @garlandtxgov pic.twitter.com/ezocX90iGp
— Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) June 12, 2015
Debris removal in @garlandtxgov pic.twitter.com/ofB1tvls04
— Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) June 12, 2015
Vehicle in @garlandtxgov floated a few blocks down the street before landing here pic.twitter.com/Q2sQKq6sA1
— Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) June 12, 2015
