Houston residents concerned that leftover storm debris will cause flooding ahead of more heavy rain

HOUSTON — The threat of heavy rain coming from the Potential Tropical Cyclone 1 system has many Houston residents concerned about leftover storm debris clogging up the drainage.

“We’re really worried when it starts raining, we are traumatized. I tell my kids we have PTSD,” said resident Joanne De La Garza.

De La Garza lives in Houston’s East End. She said she feels like cleanup crews have forgotten about them there because debris piled up on their street for weeks.

“I haven’t seen one in this whole neighborhood. I haven’t seen anyone pick up debris not in this neighborhood,” she said. 

They’re worried this debris will ultimately cause flooding.

Robert Patterson lives in north Houston and his neighborhood still has plenty of stuff to be picked up.

“We always concerned how the ditches going to be clogged up if it rains that much, if we get a lot of water,” he said.

The City of Houston said they have 200 to 250 trucks and trailers in addition to the 150 city employees picking up debris seven days a week, sun up to sun down.

“It’s unacceptable. Anyone that has debris is unacceptable. It is a top priority,” Mayor John Whitmire said.

The city says they’re following the path of the storm. They started in the Timbergrove area and trying to do a first pass on all communities.

They know they will have to double back.

Yet, many remain nervous about the upcoming rain.

The city said they have picked up 1.2 million cubic yards of debris, which is about half of NRG Stadium filled up.

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