Some flooding victims just moving home

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) - It's been five months since Tropical Storm Hermine moved through Central Texas, dropping more than a foot of rain in just a matter of hours, flooding homes all over the area.

Folks in the Round Rock West neighborhood were hit particularly hard and believe it or not, some are just now moving back into their homes after months of repairs.

Nearly a foot of rain caused Lake Creek behind the homes on Creekview Drive in Round Rock to rise higher than homeowners there had ever seen it. Jenny Benavides and her husband, Al, snapped photos as the water rose four feet inside their home.

"I got my photo albums up and the kitchen chairs,” said Jenny Benavides. “Then, all of a sudden, our furniture started floating."

By morning, Benavides says the devastation was overwhelming.

"I thought, 'Well, the cleanup. I’ll just mop the floor a little bit,'” said Benavides. 'I know there’s water in it, but we’ll just dry the house out, and it’ll only take a week or so to dry the house out, and everything will be fine.' And then, when I came over here the next morning and saw the mess and the mud, it was just heartbreaking."

The family of five spent three weeks with a neighbor. Then, the Benavideses moved to temporary housing in downtown Round Rock while the entire first floor of their home was rebuilt.

Construction wrapped up in early January and the family was able to move home. But there's still work to be done outside.

The playground Jenny's father and husband built was washed away, and a bald circle on the lawn shows where an above-ground swimming pool used to stand. But Benavides said life is returning to normal.

"It’s very good to be home again. So overjoyed,” said Benavides. “We’re just relieved."

Benavides said they were lucky to have flood insurance, but does wish federal funding would have come through.

The federal government rejected Gov. Perry's request for a major disaster declaration and financial aid for 13 counties in Texas.

Just a few doors down on Creekview Drive, neighbor Linda Cough’s home suffered more than $40 thousand worth of damage in the flood.

"It was muddy,” said Linda Cough. “It was really dirty, nasty. I lost 95 percent of the furniture downstairs."

For weeks, she lived on the second floor of her home as new drywall and paint went up. The living room couches were donated by a neighbor. Clough said the community’s support was critical to getting back on her feet.

"This neighborhood is a great community because everyone does just jump in and help and keep an eye out for each other."

Both Clough and Benavides said they worry about the creek flooding again.

Benavides says she plans on attending the City of Round Rock public input meeting Feb. 7. Residents and Round Rock officials to work on a hazard mitigation plan for the city.