Why it could still take weeks to remove Hurricane Beryl debris in parts of Harris County

HOUSTON – Despite more than a month of cleanup and recovery efforts from Hurricane Beryl, there’s still plenty of work to be done — especially in areas like Harris County Precinct 3, which has storm debris damage that has yet to be removed.

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According to Commissioner Tom Ramsey, it could take several more weeks before a debris truck even sets a tire on streets in precinct 3. In fact, it will be another at least three weeks until every street has a debris truck make a first pass.

Gage Goulding: “When will that final first pass be done in Precinct 3.”

Commissioner Ramsey: “Objective is to be through with the first pass in three weeks. That’s our objective. If we can keep the trucks here and focused in the zones, we can get the first pass done in three weeks.”

In fact, it will be another at least three weeks until every street has a debris truck make a first pass.

Even this doesn’t mean all of the debris will be picked up.

Several passes will need to occur to collect all of it, which could take a few more months.

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Why is it taking so long in Precinct 3?

It’s because They have more debris zones than any other precinct, Commissioner Ramsey explained.

Harris County Precinct 3 is home to 1.2 million people, according to Ramsey. That’s more than the entire population of seven other U.S. states.

Additionally, almost half of the damage from Beryl happened in Precinct 3.

“I can assure you no other precinct is doing more to help their constituents recover from Beryl than Precinct 3,” Commissioner Ramsey said in a Facebook video. “I know it’s not fast enough, but our top-of-the-list priority right now is to get a truck and a crew out on your street.

“I know you’re frustrated, as am I but I’m asking for your continued patience in this situation,” he added. “It will take more time, but it will be addressed…you have my word.”

Considering how long it has been since Hurricane Beryl and the tensions mounting all around Houston with residents still wondering when their storm debris will be removed.

“That’s I guess, in a sense, ridiculous to take so long,” said Taylor Trout, who lives in Champions Park. “If it’s another three weeks and we’ll probably just get rid of it ourselves.”

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KPRC 2′s Gage Goulding spoke with the commissioner this week to find out more about the process. Commissioner Ramsey explained he understands the concerns and says there is a plan in place, but a lot of factors are being taken into account. For one, it’s the lack of manpower and trucks.

“We know where the debris is; we have a plan of picking it up,” he said. “What we are simply trying to do is secure enough trucks to get the debris picked up and taken out of the neighborhoods.”

And while it may not seem like anything is being done, they do have trucks and crews working the streets in Precinct 3.

“We have nearly 100 of those working throughout precinct 3, but in addition to that, we have 33 of our own precinct crews,” Ramsey explained. “The interesting thing, too, we contacted some veteran’s tunnels to towers and others, and over 20 veterans have joined us in this mission of getting the debris picked up.”

It could be at least another couple of months before all of the debris in Precinct 3 is picked up, according to the commissioner.

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Combined with this being the third significant weather —the most recent being the derecho, it’s fair to say crews have not been able to catch a break.

“Summertime for a lot of people may be vacation time; it hadn’t been for the folks that live and work in Precinct 3,” Ramsey said. “They have been dealing with floods and dealing with the derecho and dealing with Beryl and they never complain. They just show up every day; they’ve got some days they work some weeks, six days a week or more. So, at this point, we’re trying to be sure that no one has any issues.”

KPRC 2 has reached out to other precinct commissioners to get a status on their cleanup efforts as well. Gage Goulding will have more updates to come in this story and in a full report LIVE later today.