For families in Central Texas, the holiday season feels especially hard because it is the first without loved ones lost in July 2025 floods. Yet a small space in the Sandy Creek Neighborhood holds a promise of recovery as volunteers work to reunite cherished belongings with the families who once owned them.
The Family Behind the Search
Sherry McCutcheon, her sister Terry Traugott, and their extended family have spent months sorting through decorative trinkets, tons of photos, and sweet memories that survived the flood. Their mother, Betty White, and two brothers died when their home was swept away in July. “Part of me is still gone,” Traugott said, underscoring the emotional weight of the loss.
KXAN’s First Contact
KXAN first reached out to the McCutcheon family after their mother’s house was destroyed and relatives were still missing. The mother and two brothers were found days later, but the search for personal items continued. The network of volunteers began the painstaking task of locating and cleaning the belongings that had been scattered across the neighborhood.
Items That Survived
Among the recovered items were:
- Decorative trinkets that had been passed down through generations
- A vast collection of photographs capturing family moments
- Sweet memories wrapped in paper and tape
- One of Betty White’s original painted pieces
These items were carefully handled by volunteers who “would find them carefully, bring them into us, and then they would get boxed up,” Terri Mirka, a volunteer with the Austin Disaster Relief Network, said.
Temporary Storage
After cleaning, the items were moved to a temporary Travis County shed located outside of the Round Mountain Baptist Church. The shed became a sanctuary for the family’s belongings, preserving them in perfect condition so that the sisters could one day reclaim what was theirs.
Mirka’s Social Media Initiative
To locate the rightful owners, Mirka created a Facebook page dedicated to the recovered items. She posted countless photos, marking where each piece was found and when it was recovered. The page served as a digital bridge, allowing family members to identify and claim their possessions.
Open House and Private Appointments
“We had an open house and had people come in for that,” Mirka said. “But that’s not where most people came in to get items because they wanted a private experience.” She arranged individual appointments so families could visit, view the items, and reflect on the stories behind them. For many, this process became a healing ritual, allowing them to reconnect with fragments of their past.
The Emotional Journey
“It’s almost like, little by little, we’re bringing them back,” Traugott said. The sisters described feeling protective over the belongings, knowing how deeply their family treasured each item. “You feel like you’re very protective over all that stuff because it was theirs. And they would want us to take care of it…so much of that was recovered in perfect condition, that we thought we would never see again,” the two sisters said.
Gratitude and Hope
The family’s gratitude extends to the strangers who became friends through this effort. “A lot of love and care went into this,” the sisters said. “You can feel it. You still do.” Their ability to hold on to what remains is a testament to the community’s compassion.
Remaining Items
Mirka estimates that about 10% of the items are still missing and that volunteers continue to find and bring them in. She encourages anyone who recognizes an item or knows where it might be to visit the Facebook page for updates.
Key Takeaways
- Central Texas families are reclaiming cherished belongings after the July 2025 floods.
- Volunteers, led by Terri Mirka, cleaned, stored, and tracked items in a temporary shed.
- A Facebook page and private appointments have helped families reconnect with their lost memories.
The story of the McCutcheon family illustrates how community effort and technology can transform a painful loss into a hopeful recovery.
Closing
As the holiday season approaches, the Sandy Creek Neighborhood stands as a symbol of resilience. Families who once lost loved ones now have a tangible way to honor those memories, one item at a time.
