KILGORE, Texas — Last Thursday, a major storm blew through East Texas causing damage throughout the Piney Woods region. However, it was Kilgore that got the worst of the storm's wrath.
The cleanup in the city is expected to weeks.
"These were all large trees that fell," Community Relations Manager Sonya Waters said. "Sixty, 80-year-old trees. So you can imagine how much foliage [comes] down with it as well. So these are the ones you have to now that they've fallen, try and put into movable pieces to be removed."
Many in Kilgore are hoping to return to a sense of normalcy. However, others are using the storm's aftermath to scam their way into victims' pockets.
"Scammers kind of target those incidents where people are already without electricity," Mark Robinson, External Affairs Manager for Swepco, said. "[You] already have a tree down in the yard [and] they are already seeking assistance from somebody."
Scammers will come after victims wherever they feel like the victim is vulnerable. They will try to steal money over the phone, online or in-person.
"If you get that feeling in the pit of your stomach, then just hang up the phone, stop emailing," Robinson said.
However, Waters says most of Kilgore is in a giving mood, showing the true strength of community.
"In Kilgore, with this kind of damage, we've seen just really the good people within our community. We've seen the pride that people have in their neighborhoods and the love that they've shown for their neighbors as well," Waters said. "And for that it's just something everyone should be really proud of."