Flood Damage in East San Angelo

Amy West says her car used to start up on the first turn of the key.  But that was before its encounter with flood waters over the weekend.

[car starting]

Amy West -- I was asleep and it was about 3:00 in the morning. And we walked outside and there was water probably up to here.

Standing water still covers the floor of the back seat.  Amy and her family live on the 1300 block of Tres Rios, in East San Angelo, where heavy rains caused extensive damage to homes and cars late Friday night and early Saturday morning.

Up and down Tres Rios, rugs dry in the sun, while residents pick through belongings throwing away what's ruined and hoping to salvage the rest.

[trash truck]

Maria Wong lives in the 1200 block of Tres Rios.

Maria Wong -- This is, like, you know, overwhelming.

She and her family had gone to bed Friday night and woke up to find the carpets soaked, and water standing ankle deep.

Maria Wong/resident -- So the minute I put my foot on the floor to get up and come see, it was like "squish, squish." The minute I got in the hallway -- it's tile, no carpet -- the water was covering my feet.

It has been a busy weekend Mike McCormick and others in the business of carpet repair and restoration. McCormick says his major concern is that flooded homes are dried sufficiently before residents move back in.

Mike McCormick -- We've got 30 air movers and four dehumidifiers going right now in this house.

Joel -- And how long will they have to be in operation to get it to a point you consider acceptable?

McCormick -- About 72 hours.