In parts of Houston and other nearby areas, however, the waters have started to recede, and some residents are returning home to begin the emotionally arduous task of cleaning up their belongings.
“This is going to be a massive, massive cleanup process,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said Friday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “People need to understand, this is not going to be a short-term project. This is going to be a multi-year project for Texas to be able to dig out of this catastrophe.”
Below, a look at some sobering images of Texans’ early efforts to gut homes and toss out flood-damaged property.
People begin cleaning up the damage to their homes after torrential rains caused widespread flooding during Hurricane Harvey.
A Dickinson resident hugs a friend who came to help her remove possessions damaged due to flooding.
Floodwaters have receded from this home, but the damage is done.
Family members remove debris and damaged items from their father's home.
Volunteers from Performance Contractors help co-worker Cornell Beasley clear up the damage to his home.
People in face masks begin cleaning out their property.
Books, furniture and other belongings are set to dry outside.
Lorenzo Salina helps a neighbor remove damaged walls.
Volunteers and students from C.E. King High School help to clean up the school.
Debris and possessions are piled at the curb.
Bryan Parson (left), Chris Gaspard (center) and Derek Pelt (right) remove ruined items from Parson's home.
Volunteers place water damaged school furniture and text books on the front lawn of C.E. King High School.
Lillie Roberts talks with family members on the phone as contractor Jerry Garza begins the process of repairing her home.
Cornell Beasley joins other residents as they dry and toss out their possessions.
Furniture that was destroyed in the flood is piled on the side of the street.
A man power-washes the driveway of his once flooded home.
Stacey House holds up her daughter's volleyball portrait, which was damaged during the hurricane.
Willy Coronado helps a neighbor to clean a house.
Missy Givens inspects the water level in her home.
People try to repair a truck that was submerged in floodwater.
Derek Pelt removes a wall at his friend Bryan Parson's house.
People on cleanup duty look around a damaged property.
Gregg Doyel flashed a heart sign at Caitlin Clark at her introductory press conference on Wednesday afternoon to kick off an incredibly strange back-and-forth.
