Cooke County

Valley View residents dealing with more rain as recovery continues from tornado devastation

Heavy rain has made clean-up efforts difficult

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Thursday was another day of trying to piece lives back together in the community of Valley View.

Jessica Davis got much-needed help clearing debris at her damaged home from volunteers with Valley Creek Church.

β€œActually, it means a lot because there is so much debris and some of it is actually heavy enough my family and I cannot move it,” Davis said.

The work continues despite more heavy rain adding to their already damaged area.

β€œRight when they got here it started pouring again,” Davis said. β€œThey tried to tarp some of our roofs, and they were still cutting trees.”

The volunteers didn’t let the rain stop them.

β€œTrying to get everything to the road here,” Valley Creek Church volunteer Josh Ordonez said. β€œThat’s what we are doing this morning and if it’s in the rain, it’s in the rain.”

Ordonez said they have members who live in the community and they'll be here to help as long as they're needed.

β€œYour heart goes out to these people,” Ordonez said. β€œOh goodness, all this destruction and then you have the flooding issues that are happening right now. Just kind of like one thing after another.”

Through the kindness of volunteers and neighbors helping neighbors, the community will survive.

β€œWe know each other,” Perez said. β€œWe are like a family and trying to help each other as much as we can. Thank God, so many people have been helping with water and other kind of stuff.”

The Cooke County Emergency Management and Fire Marshal offices said if you would like to volunteer please contact 940-612-5323.  The VOAD management team will let you know what you can do or bring. 

If you would like to donate cash you can contact or go to 1st United Bank in Gainesville at Broadway and Dixon Streets.  Let them know you want to donate to the VOAD/Disaster account.  All monies will be allocated to this recovery effort in Cooke County.

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