Garland Begins Removing Debris From Tornadoes
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GARLAND (CBSDFW.COM) - Reality is setting in for residents in Garland after more than 200 homes were destroyed and another 1,000 homes were damaged by deadly tornadoes on the day after Christmas. The city on Monday began the process of removing debris, clearing the streets and preparing to rebuild.
Many families lost everything that night, and are currently living in hotel rooms.
Before this cleanup could begin, the city had to first make sure that the hardest hit neighborhoods were secure. Clearing away the debris is the next step. Large trucks were brought in to assist in the cleanup effort. The first areas to get assistance include Christina Lane, Westlake Drive and Kelso Lane.
Homeowners in Garland have been asked to place debris by the curb and keep cars away from the roads. Vehicles which block access to the streets will only further delay the process, which is already expected to take a minimum of 10 weeks.
Complete Coverage Of The Cleanup
The city is contracting with two companies to monitor, manage and remove storm-related debris from public property and the right-of-way areas in neighborhoods. The trucks on Monday picked up tree branches, scraps of metal and damaged household items. The debris is then hauled away to the landfill.
It is still possible that Garland will receive a disaster declaration, city officials explained, which would make this cleanup work eligible for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Homeowners and volunteers are happy to see that the city is taking such steps to clear out the mess. "We went house-to-house helping with debris removal, but there's nowhere else to put the items," added pastor Mike Pettitt, who has been volunteering with the cleanup efforts. "Once the city removes this, we can continue removing the rubble from the houses and helping them find the precious things and move someplace where they can live."
Volunteers have been staging at the Oasis Church, located along Locust Grove Road. They have been doing everything to help out neighbors, including assisting with the heavy lifting to preparing and delivering hot meals.
Meanwhile, amidst the rebuilding process, students in the Garland Independent School District are set to return to classes for the first time since the storms on Tuesday. It will not be an easy start to the second half of the school year. But there are many resources available for those kids.
School officials have offered to pick up any students who are currently staying outside of the district. It can also provide school supplies, basic hygiene products and uniforms to children in need. Additionally, a phone bank will continue to be open during the week for families to call for assistance.