HOUSTON – Before the historic Memorial Day flooding, the week started with an EF-1 tornado that destroyed a southwest Houston apartment complex Sunday.
Days later, residents are still trying to pick up the pieces. The city and the Salvation Army said 400 people have been served at the Rockport Apartments, and there are still hundreds in need of more help.
Alma Meija is one of the 1,600 residents displaced.
"I'm still having nightmares right now," she said. "It's been really crazy. I'm so happy we're getting help, but at the same time, I'm sad I'm going to have to start all over."
The Salvation Army was passing out boxes of food and the city of Houston was surveying residents.
"What are your immediate needs? Is it housing? Is it a deposit? Is it moving services? So we can then take inventory of those services and try to provide some of that relief," said Melody Barr, with the city of Houston.
The Red Cross opened a temporary shelter for residents, but finding permanent new housing has been problematic.
"Some of the apartment complexes have gotten wind, 'Hey, the city's out here and people are needing housing,' and they've upped their rent. So we've been looking for alternative housing that is comparable to this site," Barr said.
There is a possibility that apartments in the area that have raised their prices could be investigated for price gouging.
The city agencies and nonprofit groups will be back Thursday at 10:30 a.m.