TYLER, Texas — It’s been nearly a month since devastating storms came through parts of East Texas. Now, people are still recovering from the damage left behind.
"It’s (storm cleanup) just become a part of us," Tyler resident Sharon Miller said.
Miller said she’s had debris in her yard for about three weeks and received mixed reports about whether or not the city would actually pick up her limbs.
"We could never understand, we’ve heard so many stories about what the city will do and don’t do," Miller said.
Although, she was aware of the city’s regulations on leaving debris out on the street for pickups, her family was not able to bundle the tree limbs for the city’s convenience.
"My husband needs two shoulders replaced and I didn’t want him to bundle the wood. So we just did the best thing we could," Miller said.
Officials say the city is working diligently to get the remaining debris picked up and the issue resolved. But there's still plenty of work to do.
"As of Tuesday, solid waste had 506 open special pickup work orders, averaging about 150 to 200 per week. That will take about two weeks, once an order is placed for it to be picked up," said Payton Weidman, spokesperson for the city of Tyler.
Weidman said some of the issues the city has seen is residents putting bulky items along with the debris piles, which is causing further slow downs.
"When you do that we are not able to pick that up with a brush truck easily. Otherwise, that creates a laborious moment for our crews," Weidman said.
The city is hoping cleanups will be complete within the next three weeks, Weidman said.
Residents like Miller have remained positive throughout the process knowing other families have lost homes.
"Everything is relative. You’ve seen so many people (had) trees fall through their house, so trees falling is minor," Miller said.
Miller also said she wouldn't be able to do the work without volunteers, and that the city of Tyler really came together through this experience.
"People helping people, and that gives me a warm feeling," Miller said. "The people of Tyler are wonderful."