TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — With dawn just peeking out over the tops of trees in the Sandy Creek neighborhood, Casey Boone fired up his skid steer loader. He’s hours away from home, but his surroundings — now cluttered with debris, toppled homes and splintered trees — are all too familiar.
Boone says he grew up in Florence and now lives in the Bryan-College Station area. He says he was shocked by the images coming out of his old stomping grounds.
“It’s just devastating. I have an old boss here who’s lost his entire family,” Boone said.
Boone now works for a tree cutting business. He and several colleagues were spending some of this week clearing brush and moving debris near Windy Valley Road.
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Damage along Windy Valley Road in Sandy Creek area of Leander (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) -
Damage along Windy Valley Road in Sandy Creek area of Leander (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) -
Damage along Windy Valley Road in Sandy Creek area of Leander (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) -
Damage along Windy Valley Road in Sandy Creek area of Leander (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) -
Damage along Windy Valley Road in Sandy Creek area of Leander (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) -
Damage along Windy Valley Road in Sandy Creek area of Leander (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)
We found Boone with a small group of other volunteers, all made up of other business owners and professionals across Texas that drove in to help with cleanup.
He, and many of the other volunteers, said they felt called to help in time where so many are hurting.
“It’s really hitting home for me. I’d rather help out people that need it since I got the resources,” Boone said.
KXAN has compiled a list of how people can volunteer to help or donate to support recovery efforts.