FEMA assistance deadline approaches for Central Texas flood survivors

CENTRAL TEXAS (KXAN) — Nearly two months after the Independence Day floods killed at least 138 people, many are still picking up the pieces.

For Harry Sherwood, it destroyed nearly everything he owned.

“I’m getting by. I hope everybody else out here is getting by, but I’m sure there are some people out here still hurting,” he said.

On July 5, floodwaters rushed through Big Sandy Creek behind Sherwood’s house. He evacuated at 2 a.m., when the water was already waist-deep. He said he is lucky to be alive. 10 people in the Big Sandy Creek area died.

“It was home, everything, and it’s gone. All the furniture, computers and desks, and so forth,” Sherwood said. “Everything’s just gone,” he said.

Sherwood had flood insurance and might rebuild once his home is demolished on Sept. 13. Still, he said it’s painful to say goodbye to the place he lived for nearly 20 years, many of those with his late wife.

“It’s just sad. It has to go,” Sherwood said. Sherwood has a GoFundMe to help him recover from the floods.

FEMA deadline approaches

According to Texas Appleseed, more than 7,900 people in Central Texas applied to FEMA for disaster relief after the floods. Only around 3% of applicants had flood insurance at the time, according to the dashboard.

The deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is Sept. 4.

The data analysis also showed that more than 67% of applicants reported earning less than $60,000 per year, while 38% made $30,000 or less.