Devastating Earthquake in Mexico

Canadian Expats in Mexico Devastated by Severe Earthquake!  

Hi my name is Cheryl Pettersen, from Calgary, Alberta,  and I'm organizing a campaign to raise funds for one of my best friends for over 30 years, Colleen Kyllo Kilcommons, and her partner, Brad Stevenson, whose home and animal shelter was extremely damaged by an earthquake on September 19, 2017 in central Mexico. 

Since Mexico homeowners can’t buy “Natural Disaster Insurance” and Mexico is not a country supported by gofundme, I’m setting up the gofundme page on Brad and Colleen’s behalf. 

It’s extremely urgent to stabilize Brad and Colleen’s home as Engineers are very concerned about an aftershock causing the rest of the second level to come down, potentially damaging the first level beyond repair.

All donations will be withdrawn by me and wired to Brad and Colleen.  All funds raised will go to rebuilding sections of their home and animal shelter to make it structurally safe to live in.  Any remaining funds will go towards rebuilding other homes in need.

Currently, in their animal shelter they have 12 dogs (all ages), 3 cats, 2 horses, 1 goat and 4 birds.

Thanks in advance for any donations received.  Every little bit helps and there isn't such a thing as too little of a donation.

Thanks,
Cheryl
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Please read full story below...

On September 19, 2017 …at about 11 am a large magnitude Earthquake shook the unsuspecting people living in central Mexico. The Epicenter was very close to Miacatlan, Morelos, Mexico…the location of Brad and Colleen’s home, a Canadian couple from Calgary, Alberta who emigrated to Mexico 7 years ago. This nightmare only took less than 10 seconds to occur.

Their home was massively damaged in the earthquake.  The Protection Civil (group of emergency government engineers) have been to their home to inspect it and had initially been determined by the inspectors and architects that the second story would have to be demolished and that while the first level had sustained considerable damage that is was still structurally sound, although a few core columns would have to be added and replaced.  In the event of a strong aftershock, should it occur, (as it already had in the neighboring state of Oaxaca) it could cause the entire second level to collapse, taxing the first level.  Upon hearing this the couple were devastated and searched for a cheaper and faster solution from a friends brother who was an engineer and worked creating earthquake resistant, high rise buildings, in Mexico City. He came to their aid and after his inspection, he was optimistic that they could strengthen the entire house and replace much of what was damaged and reduced the cost considerably and also the time frame in which this work could be done. The only issue now was money.  They had saved enough to tide them through until Brad could get his books published online and begin selling them, but this would not be for 4 to 6 months. The cost of living is fairly low compared to Canada and Colleen and Brad live a simple lifestyle, but the cost of materials and labour is more than they have. They have one experienced crew working 5 days a week on doing the necessary work for emergency strengthening. They do not have enough of their own funds to complete all of this emergency work, so if you are able and willing to help out this wonderful couple and their beautiful family, it would be so very appreciated, thank you so much!

 “It is hard to sleep at night, always waiting to react and run to safety if there is another quake.” says Colleen " The earth has been shaking for days since the big one, and even when it isn’t I feel like it is, it is taking its toll. Once the house is strengthened I will sleep better.”

“whatever the end cost is for our repairs, any extra that we have, we will be paying it forward to those in need in either our town or the surrounding towns that have been severely damaged and many lives can be eased with donations, support and love. People tend to forget about these events after the news is done making its debut, but the people are still trying to piece their lives back together and need help to do that.  Every act of kindness never goes unappreciated! Gracias, Thank you from the bottom of my heart”

“We are all in shock and the fear runs deep, I now know what post traumatic shock feels like, my life feels as fractured as my house. We are grateful we are alive, only a few cuts and bruises. But I don’t know how to cope with the reality of not enough money to rebuild our home and shelter. I feel so helpless” says Colleen, “I am supposed to be the one to helps others, not the other way around, I want to be volunteering my services to help all of those who have also been devastated and have lost family, my heart is breaking! I found as much clothing as I could to donate to those who have nothing left. Our Mexican friends are in full force to help out their brothers and sister in need. The one beautiful thing that you can feel throughout this whole tragedy is the love and genuine caring for others, seeing those who have very little give so much. The problem with being a “white” expat is that everyone assumes you are rich, which is not our case, and people tend to overlook those that they believe can help themselves…we will make it through this somehow, I just don’t know what that will look like at this moment”.



















These cracks in the house are not superficial they are on both sides of the walls, at times right through the support beams. It has taken them a week to remove all of the rubble, glass and debris from the damaged areas. The construction crews have begun to demolish parts of the house that must come down completely for safety reasons, due to severe structural damage, and in amongst all of this, the rains have not abated, and with all of the cracks in the roof due to the earthquake, the house has been inundated with water and bugs, including large ants, and scorpions.

Brad and Colleen have not left their home, as they have no way of taking all of their pets with them or keeping them safe. The stress for everyone, including animals is very high. The costs of the emergency removal and immediate repair work exceeds what they have in savings. Also, their expenses are higher because they have so many animals that they are caring for (and that has grown this week by 3 more dogs, at least temporarily, as their neighbors left to help family/others in Mexico City with no consideration for their three small puppies). Their animal shelter and rescue has taken on a life of its own, they have funded everything up to this point not receiving donations or community support. They value the life of all sentient creatures great and small as if they were their own children. Even when others think they are crazy for doing it.

Brad and Colleen and Sionade are not the type to ask for help from others, while they repeatedly help others in need; thus, it is difficult for them to reach out like this, but they have no other options. There isn't the same type of lending system in place in Mexico as there is in Canada from banks...and even if there was, they wouldn't be able to receive such loans as they are "Ex-pats" living in a foreign country. During their four years in Miacatlan, Brad and Colleen have lent or given money out to other families in various emergency situations.  They have also donated various supplies including a stove to a family that was living without one. They have bought tile for one family that had lived without any thing on their floors for 20 years, they gave money to another family to buy a motor for their truck so they could go to work, another family so they could purchase supplies to sell in the Mercado at Christmas time so they could feed their family, also another family so their son could fix his computer to use in University and yet another so they could buy tires for their big water truck to make a living hauling water...and have always offered their help whenever needed. In return, many of the locals have assisted them this past week, helping to clean up their home and yard. Local businesses have helped by discounting some of their purchases...even a few supplies and a nice spaghetti dinner from one neighbor family, have been delivered to the house, including a bag of cement.      

Some of their beautiful family before the Earthquake
left to right: Lola, Frodo, (Brad the Human), Gimli, Indiana, Galadriel, Arwen, Merlin, Taquito on top Jenny and Lincoln, They have gained 4 dogs and 2 cats since this photo (they only have four animals that were not rescues in their entire family)

Four years ago this family settled upon the area in Mexico known as Miacatlan, in the state of Morelos. They chose Morelos for many reasons, not the least of which was its safety. Never in her recorded history had Morelos been the epicenter for an earthquake, nor the recipient of a Hurricane or Tornado. This is important, because in Mexico homeowners can no longer purchase what is known as "Natural disaster Insurance"; and with the Mexican Federal Government in disarray, there is little help offered to homeowners who become victims of natural disasters. In other words, homeowners are "on their own".

Miacatlan is a peaceful, quiet, rural area south of Mexico City and Cuernavaca; it is comprised of a series of low mountain ranges and valleys. The valleys possess rich soil and as such they are filled with fields of various farmer's crops including, Sugar Cane, Corn, Soya and grazing grass. In amongst all of this beauty, Brad and Colleen purchased a plot of land to build their home, and house their beautiful animal friends. For the past four years in Miacatlan, Brad and Colleen have created a large family for themselves. They have their daughter Sionade living with them along with 13 dogs (it was 16, but 3 passed on), 3 cats, 2 horses, a goat and 4 birds.
 
Taquito, Arwin and Indiana

Gweny

Newborn attacked by dogs

Brad and Colleen and Sionade have a huge compassion and love for all animals and Miacatlan has a large stray dog/cat population. To this end, they have personally rescued many, dogs and cats; but have also rescued many other animals including abandoned/hurt horses (horses that have sustained injuries and are no longer suitable for work with the various farmers). Thus, each day is a long one for them, as they both have many chores to complete around the house and yard with the animals. After these chores are completed, they both settle into their respective work, with Colleen and Sionade in the art room creating, and Brad close by writing.

Galadriel

Gimi Gee

Buttercup

Strider and Pippin

In the community of Miacatlan, they work with the town's incredible Veterinarian, Señor Israel, to help all animals in need that come their way. In Miacatlan, ranchers are allowed to brand and let loose their animals to graze, which means that most of the grazing animal population lives nearby Brad and Colleen in the countryside, as do most of the stray dogs and cats. When they notice animals in distress, they help the animals immediately (often with the services of the Veterinarian) and then they contact the owner(s) for assistance. Sometimes the owners are capable of paying back veterinarian expenses, sometimes they are not...this has never stopped the family from helping where ever they could. And if the rescued animals have no owners, and new homes cannot be found for them they simply add them to their ever-growing family!

Each time a new one comes into the family they can honestly say they can't even imagine a life with out them!     

Luthien Tinuvial

Legolas

Dinner Time

Toriel nd Canela

Radagast

Radagast and Legolas

Sionade and the crew

Colleen's art room and their bedroom was on the 2nd level which was badly damaged along with many of her tools and supplies. Most of the windows were broken blasting glass and sections of the second floor walls all over the property, falling Inches from her as she ran from the house with their family friend Armando. Sionade was in the state of Guanajuato at the time, thank Goodness! “Debris was falling inside and out, you didn’t know which way to turn,” exclaimed Colleen, “I knew Brad was on the second floor and began hollering to locate him and see if he had made it out!” It took 20 minutes to locate everyone throughout the house. Fortunately, Everyone and ALL of their pets made it out of the house safely (it was nothing short of a miracle).  The earthquake was nothing like residents of Mexico ever remember because it not only shook the buildings side-to-side, but after about 5 seconds, began to push and pull the buildings up and down, in a horrendous "thumping" motion...and this is what caused most of the massive structural damage, causing things like Churches, Schools, Homes and Government buildings to simply collapse, killing and injuring thousands of people across the affected areas through many surrounding towns.

So, if you can, even if it is a small amount, please consider helping to fund part of Brad and Colleen's rebuilding of their sanctuary for them and their animal friends. If enough people helped even with smaller donations, it might be enough to rebuild even a section of their home. Again, every little bit helps to alleviate their desperate situation.

Legolas and Luthien Tinuviel

Legolas

Samwise and Buttercup

Brad and Colleen, and Sionade are such compassionate, authentic, caring and hard-working people.  They are people who make a difference to those around them.  If you feel inspired to help out this family who are dealing with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake and rebuilding their lives, so they can continue helping others. They will definitely be paying it forward as they always have.  Thank you for taking the time to read this and sharing their experience.

***They are also in the finishing stages of starting up a small business with some local Mexican friends to build raised PVC/canvas dog beds to sell and distribute as needed to create work for the locals and save animals with the proceeds. Keeping the dogs off the wet and cool dirt or concrete is key to keeping a strong immune system.  As many illness and parasite infestations occur from a compromised immune system. Their passion is to create a world where everyone has a home and is thriving NOT just surviving!

***Update on the baby horse we rescued from stray dogs attacking him. We found the farmer who owned the horse and her 2 day old baby, informed him of what happened and put her in a secure place, called our Vet and he stitched the baby up and gave him antibiotics. The mother didn’t have much milk, was her first foal and the stress may have been an issue as well to the lack of milk. The attack was just too much for the little fella and the next day he transitioned. We were sad.

***They have all their animals spayed and neutered!

Brad and Colleen with some friends