Casper Mayor Bruce Knell pressed the panic button during an interview with local news media Cowboy State Daily published on Aug. 31. According to him, the city's homeless population had topped about 200 people and had created a "mess" whenever they roam the city's parks and streets.

"It's like nothing I've ever seen. It's third-world country stuff happening in Casper, Wyoming," said Knell. "They destroyed everything. It's horrible."

The hardest hit was the city's vacant Econo Lodge motel, which had been closed due to flooding. Homeless people took over the hotel, causing millions in destruction. Photos of the motel rooms published by the outlet show trash, towels and bed sheets littered across the floors.