AUSTIN, Texas — The Onion Creek neighborhood in southeast Austin is remembering the deadly flood of 2013 by unveiling a new mural in the Onion Creek Metropolitan Park.
Almost ten years ago, the subdivision saw some of the worst flooding in the city's history. Those who experienced it remember it all too vividly.
"I challenge you all to try to experience holding on to a 3-year-old baby with one hand for hours in eight feet of water,” said Jo Garcia, an Onion Creek community member.
Garcia was just one of the many Onion Creek neighbors affected that day. At Saturday’s mural unveiling, she recounted those traumatic hours trying to save her family in a flood that ultimately took her home.
"I had a home, not a house. I had a home where my family lived, where I raised my children,” Garcia said.
Garcia has since moved from Austin, but wants to make sure the city never forgets this tragedy. Many other community members share that same sentiment.
“We want to make sure that this never happens again,” said Ana Aguirre, another Onion Creek community member. “There should have never been any homes built here. This could have all been avoided."
The City commissioned artist Alonso Estrada to create the mural for people to enjoy in the park. Estrada has been working on the mural for the past 10 months, listening to stories from community members who experienced the flood.
"This was not for me,” Estrada said. “This is for the community, and this is for Austin."
The mural is also for people like the Travis County Constable George Morales, who survived after being swept away when his house flooded in the 2015.
"It's emotional for me,” Morales said. “I look at that mural and I see the levees.”
Morales says the community should never forget what happened, and this mural will help do that.
"Keep talking about it, keep their memory alive,” Morales said. “People lost lives out here."
Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes was at the mural unveiling, and she said she’ll be trying to work with Congress to get better flood insurance options.