Although he was somewhat prepared for what to expect after seeing the destruction Hurricane Harvey had created in Texas, seeing it first-hand was a sobering experience for David Berg.

Instead of attending an annual real estate conference in Austin like he had intended, Berg, a managing broker for Keller-Williams in Federal Way, opted to join other real estate agents in helping residents whose homes in the Houston area were destroyed or damaged during Hurricane Harvey.

He volunteered for three days, Sept. 12-14, with two of those days helping out in Sealy, Texas, a rural town outside of Houston. He said the experience made an impact.

Seeing people sweep and pile up destroyed keepsakes outside their homes hit him the hardest. When he first arrived, Berg saw a woman disposing of ruined children’s books and other small items of sentimental value that can never be replaced. That made him think of his own children and what it would be like to have all their items destroyed, including irreplaceable pieces of childhood.

“It was really sad,” he said.

Berg said while the flood water had already receded, there was much to do, and he spent most of his time helping move destroyed belongings outside homes to be picked up and hauled off.

The residents, he said, were overwhelmed but grateful for the help.

“It makes me really thankful for where we live at,” Berg said.

While he felt like he had contributed and made a small impact, Berg said he doesn’t know that he or the other volunteers helped as much as was needed – and thought donating money and paying wages for people who need the work down in the affected area might have accomplished more.

“I’m glad I did it, though,” he said.

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Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

David Berg