Chuck & Caleb's losses from Harvey
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My name is Mike Noland I live in Manvel, Tx just south of Houston, but my brother and his young son who live in Mauriceville, lost everything when their home and car was flooded and they have no insurance what so ever.
My brother Chuck (age 65) or he goes by "Catfish", lives in Mauriceville (near Orange, TX right at the TX/LA border) with his son Caleb (13) and they were hit hard by Harvey. These pictures were taken as he was trying to evacuate and the water continued to rise, so all he knows is it is much higher, how high, he still doesnt know for sure.
Chuck is a gentle man and someone who lives a very simple life, has always worked hard and did his best to provide for himself and his family. He is not someone that asks for charity, in fact he is usually the one that is always trying to do for others. He has been working through a challenging life with very little material things to show, but he provides for his family and always has, to the best of his ability, working through more adversity than most people ever face in their lifetime.
After a long battle with a unique form of Blood cancer, he lost Neoma, his wife of almost 20 years, and was left alone to raise their young son Caleb, who at the time of her death, was about 5. He worked on his own and built a small home before having to retire and focus on raising his son. He had never had much and now he had even less with a very small Social Security check as his only income.
He had gone through several vehicles trying to find dependable used older vehicles and had just traded up enough to get a nice 2008 Toyota Rav 4, that he was so proud of and had just paid off and looking forward to happier times. He was really impressed with all the features on his car and he was very appreciative for his home and his car, even though it took most f his small retirement check each month, forcing him to keep only the minimum insurance as iability for the car, no comprehensive coverage and no flood insurance.
Despie it all, that car was always clean, he kept it fine tuned and running well and made the most of his hand built home, proud of the hime he built nd the car he earned and it never bothered him to have less than others because he earned it himself. That is Chuck, That is Catfish. The entire community know him as always volunteering t help at school at church, helping his brother in Houston or any other friend neighbor or family member, and never asking for anythng back in return.
So when the flood waters came out of no where, his car underwater and flood water that rose over halfway up the wall before he left, as he took pictures so it rose even higher after he left, and not sure how high it got, he knew that all of that expense was going to be on him.
He and his young son were rescued, taken to a church, but that church had no power, no water and they were talking about sending them somehere else but didnt know where.
Wanting to remain close to his home so he could start rebuilding as soon as he could access it, he got a ride to a friends home that was closer to his home but also had no power. he friend was out of state but Chuck was going to basically House-Sit the home and oversee the return of power, any initial work that he could do for the friends home and that he has been doing.
So that is where he and his son have been waiting, wating for the water to go down, surviving best he can on what food he can find. Waiting, hoping for the best and waiting for the flood water to go down so he can go to work and start rebuilding his life. He would never ask for it and he will probably get on me for posting this, but please help us help Chuck (Catfish) and Caleb.
Since his home was underwater, the power company cut the lines from the pole to the house when the floodwaters came and they wont restore it until a licensed electrician inspects and connects it. He was troubled over that the past few because he had no money to pay for a licensed electrician. He spoke of needing to get his car running again after remaining underwater for who knows how long , how many days, he is overwhelmed at the thought f it with no insurance only liability.
They lost all their clothes, furniture and other few material things they had and worked so hard for, are gone. His house will need a lot of repair and with no flood insurance, no homeowners he will need funds for all types of expenses. So while he is housewatching, trying to take care of a friends home, while his home, remains underwater, his car underwater, all of his and his sons possessions, are gone, ruined and living on a tiny social security retirement, has no where to turn except to just do like he has done all of his life, roll up his sleeves, and get busy and stay busy. Helping others as well as himself. All with about $3 in his wallet with no access to anything else right now.
All of the pictures he took were before he left the house. He has no way of even knowing how bad it all is, but he remains focused and just trying to do what he can with the things he can do something about. The other things, he said that he will trust God to see him through and do what he himself can't do.
We keep him in our prayers and know that God will see Chuck through this but if you wanted to help some of the peope who are experiencing a total loss, we appreciate what ever you feel led to contribute, but the most important thing that we can ask for is your prayers for Chuck and his son Caleb.
Organizer
Mike Noland
Organizer
Orange, TX
