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CNN Live At Daybreak

Flood Waters Receding in Central Texas

Aired July 08, 2002 - 05:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The flood waters are receding in Central Texas, but what a mess. Governor Rick Perry is now requesting several more counties be added to the federal disaster list. Thousands of residents displaced by surging flood waters are getting a look at the extent of the damage.

Tony Paniagua of CNN affiliate KPRC reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TONY PANIAGUA, KPRC CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A preliminary assessment by the American Red Cross estimates 48,000 homes in South Central Texas have been affected by these floods. The state's governor is seeing this damage for himself and asking the federal government for assistance.

GOV. RICK PERRY, TEXAS: It's still extraordinary. Still a substantial amount of water.

PANIAGUA: The victims are residents like Michael Luciano and his family. They rent a house near the Guadalupe River, which turned into an uninvited visitor creating havoc inside and out.

MICHAEL LUCIANO, FLOOD VICTIM: My sister went through the last flood in '98 and this house was completely covered. So we got everything out, everything we could.

PANIAGUA: Fortunately, the waters are receding, at least right now. This is Luciano's neighbor's house 24 hours ago. Now it looks much better, as the Guadalupe begins to give them a break.

(on camera): When you step into Luciano's backyard, you get a pretty good idea of just how far the Guadalupe River has traveled away from its normal course. That's the river right now flowing rapidly just a few yards away from here. But a few hours ago, it was in this yard, as you can see by a lot of debris left along this fence. It includes garbage cans, toys, pieces of wood, old tires and many other items.

Luciano says this is much more than he and his family ever want to handle again, so they plan to leave this house by the river.

LUCIANO: I'm not going to waste my hard working money again like this. This is it. First and last time. (END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That was Tony Paniagua of our Houston affiliate KPRC.

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