Kelton Family Flood Relief Fund
Donation protected
Hi friends!
If I don't know you, my name is Laura Kelton and I originally hail from Baton Rouge, LA. As you have probably seen me post, my family is part of the tens of thousands effected by the epic flooding in Louisiana. I say epic not jokingly or lightly, but as one of the few words that carries the gravity of what is happening in south Louisiana. My mother's hometown and parent's current place of residence, Denham Springs, have reported that 90% of homes have been flooded. It's Louisiana, flooding, schmooding, right? Usually that would be the case, but the volume of water is unprecedented. Meteorologists are calling the phenomenon a "monsoon depression," literally parking itself over south Louisiana and continuously pouring down rain. Flooding up to the rooflines of homes. The levee has now crested and is overflowing. It hasn't stopped and won't for days.
It started Saturday, with a text from my mom that read, "Well it's time for Thomas to leave for college. So you load up the canoe and float it down the road to the vehicles. We'll be on the road soon. Love y'all". Attached were two pictures that were quite comical at the time. My dad and my brother wading through knee deep water with a canoe covered in trash bagged belongings. Crazy to see, but the it's the price you pay to live in Sportsman's Paradise. It's water, it happens, and people who have lived there even for a short while learn how to deal with it.
A few hours later I started receiving texts that read "We're stuck. Can't go East, West, North or South," from my dad and shortly after from my mom, "We left at 9:30 this morning to take Thomas to college. We got stuck on I-12 and just exited in Albany. We are told the interstate is closed going both ways and the local roads east and west. All of the businesses at the Albany exit have closed. There are quite a few people stranded here. There is a Catholic Church and a tourist center here so we're hoping they will open eventually for bathrooms and a place to sleep. Please pray for us to be safe and to be a light amongst the chaos."
At that point, it was clear things weren't going to get better any time soon. I spoke with my mom as she described to me that they were one one of many "islands" completely surrounded by water with no way to leave by car. Graciously a local business opened their doors and my dad along with a crew of those stranded made dinner for the 300 people they could get into the building.
Come Sunday, my parents got word that the home they had just moved into, along with the home of their closest friends were now flooded. They thought they were driving to Tennessee and would come home to a dry place. There was no way to know it would ever get this bad and all their worldly possessions would soon be underwater. Thankfully, come Sunday they also received a drop of food and water by helicopter. Another text from my mom read, "Cell service is poor if you don't hear from me. We just picked up water and food from a helicopter fly in. I feel like we're in a disaster movie! We are not comfortable but we are healthy! Water is receding. Waiting for roads to open. Maybe today. Keep praying!!"
Once the roads opened later that day they made their way to Tennessee, and are currently headed back. They are very blessed to have a dry place to sleep when they arrive, but their battle is far from over. It doesn't look like water may recede enough for them to get into their home until Friday at the earliest, at which point they can start to assess the damage. Everything they had was in that home, or in storage, which is likely flooded as well. My younger brother who resides in Baton Rouge is lucky enough to have an apartment on the second floor and has remained dry, but his car is gone.
Any and all financial assistance is greatly appreciated. All funds donated here will go either directly to my family (John and Sue Kelton), or contributed to another family in need. Additionally, I will be going back home to aid in relief as soon as the water recedes and travel is allowed. I could use more able bodies! As much as I hate to keep piling on the bad news, my father is currently in his second month of chemotherapy and isn't capable of the physical exertion he would normally be able to perform. Once they know what physical assistance is needed to clean their house - I'll need some help! Financial contributions will go towards cleaning supplies, toiletries, food, vehicles, and the cost of cleaning their property in addition to the homes of many friends.
I cannot express how much any and all contributions would mean to our family. My heart is breaking to be so far away and feel so useless until I am there. Thank you for the messages and kind words! I have no doubt that they along with their community will recover, but they have a long road ahead.
XOXO
Laura
If I don't know you, my name is Laura Kelton and I originally hail from Baton Rouge, LA. As you have probably seen me post, my family is part of the tens of thousands effected by the epic flooding in Louisiana. I say epic not jokingly or lightly, but as one of the few words that carries the gravity of what is happening in south Louisiana. My mother's hometown and parent's current place of residence, Denham Springs, have reported that 90% of homes have been flooded. It's Louisiana, flooding, schmooding, right? Usually that would be the case, but the volume of water is unprecedented. Meteorologists are calling the phenomenon a "monsoon depression," literally parking itself over south Louisiana and continuously pouring down rain. Flooding up to the rooflines of homes. The levee has now crested and is overflowing. It hasn't stopped and won't for days.
It started Saturday, with a text from my mom that read, "Well it's time for Thomas to leave for college. So you load up the canoe and float it down the road to the vehicles. We'll be on the road soon. Love y'all". Attached were two pictures that were quite comical at the time. My dad and my brother wading through knee deep water with a canoe covered in trash bagged belongings. Crazy to see, but the it's the price you pay to live in Sportsman's Paradise. It's water, it happens, and people who have lived there even for a short while learn how to deal with it.
A few hours later I started receiving texts that read "We're stuck. Can't go East, West, North or South," from my dad and shortly after from my mom, "We left at 9:30 this morning to take Thomas to college. We got stuck on I-12 and just exited in Albany. We are told the interstate is closed going both ways and the local roads east and west. All of the businesses at the Albany exit have closed. There are quite a few people stranded here. There is a Catholic Church and a tourist center here so we're hoping they will open eventually for bathrooms and a place to sleep. Please pray for us to be safe and to be a light amongst the chaos."
At that point, it was clear things weren't going to get better any time soon. I spoke with my mom as she described to me that they were one one of many "islands" completely surrounded by water with no way to leave by car. Graciously a local business opened their doors and my dad along with a crew of those stranded made dinner for the 300 people they could get into the building.
Come Sunday, my parents got word that the home they had just moved into, along with the home of their closest friends were now flooded. They thought they were driving to Tennessee and would come home to a dry place. There was no way to know it would ever get this bad and all their worldly possessions would soon be underwater. Thankfully, come Sunday they also received a drop of food and water by helicopter. Another text from my mom read, "Cell service is poor if you don't hear from me. We just picked up water and food from a helicopter fly in. I feel like we're in a disaster movie! We are not comfortable but we are healthy! Water is receding. Waiting for roads to open. Maybe today. Keep praying!!"
Once the roads opened later that day they made their way to Tennessee, and are currently headed back. They are very blessed to have a dry place to sleep when they arrive, but their battle is far from over. It doesn't look like water may recede enough for them to get into their home until Friday at the earliest, at which point they can start to assess the damage. Everything they had was in that home, or in storage, which is likely flooded as well. My younger brother who resides in Baton Rouge is lucky enough to have an apartment on the second floor and has remained dry, but his car is gone.
Any and all financial assistance is greatly appreciated. All funds donated here will go either directly to my family (John and Sue Kelton), or contributed to another family in need. Additionally, I will be going back home to aid in relief as soon as the water recedes and travel is allowed. I could use more able bodies! As much as I hate to keep piling on the bad news, my father is currently in his second month of chemotherapy and isn't capable of the physical exertion he would normally be able to perform. Once they know what physical assistance is needed to clean their house - I'll need some help! Financial contributions will go towards cleaning supplies, toiletries, food, vehicles, and the cost of cleaning their property in addition to the homes of many friends.
I cannot express how much any and all contributions would mean to our family. My heart is breaking to be so far away and feel so useless until I am there. Thank you for the messages and kind words! I have no doubt that they along with their community will recover, but they have a long road ahead.
XOXO
Laura
Organizer and beneficiary
Laura Kelton
Organizer
Chicago, IL
John Kelton
Beneficiary
