Outside Miles Murayama's home in Kerr County, the sound of a circular saw sliced through the air as he awaited the end of months of repairs.

Nearly five months after the flooding, you wouldn't know the house was damaged and almost all the family's possessions destroyed. Only one bathroom remained unfinished.

Even as their lives have returned to some sense of normalcy, Murayama has been pondering one overriding question.

"Why? Why? Why Fourth of July, wee hours of the morning?" he said. "Why couldn’t it be Fourth of July during daylight, when people would have had a chance maybe?"

At least 138 people died that morning, including young children. Murayama has since leaned into his faith — and a newfound sense of community, pushing aside petty disagreements.

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