Harvey’s floodwaters give way to festering piles of garbage
HOUSTON — Roiling waters in the streets have given way to festering piles of garbage on the curbs.
Harvey’s record-setting rains created heaps of ruined possessions that now line entire neighbourhoods, some nearly up to the rooftops of the homes that were swamped. All that sodden drywall, flooring, furniture, clothing and toys adds up to an estimated 8 million cubic yards in Houston alone, enough to fill the Texans’ football stadium two times over.
Texas and city officials have pledged to make a priority of the monumental task of cleaning it all up, though they stopped short of giving specific timelines, mindful that such cleanups have dragged on longer than anticipated after other major storms.
“We want to get it removed as quickly as possible,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told reporters Thursday.