I lost everything in Ian.
Donazione protetta
- Hi my name is Joanne Gore. I have lived in my home in Fort Myers for 18 years. I love my home and within the last 2 years have had a new roof, new beam and plywood foundation, and new air conditioner installed using much of my savings. We have weathered many a storm together. When Hurricane Ian was predicted to hit Tampa, I dropped and secured the awnings, moved everything not secured into the Forida room,moved my car to high ground and hunkered down with Faith and Luna, my 2 cats. All was good until suddenly the water rose incredibly fast and was in my house. It started flowing past the windows, the wind howling and the rain pounding. I climbed onto the kitchen counter placed the cats above the cabinets, put my cell phone and ID next to them and waited and prayed. The water rose to 2 feet below the ceiling. Then miraculously it began to recede. At around 6pm it was still raging outside. The Florida Room came apart and blew past the window, then the front window blew in and the dining room wall began to buckle. I had to leave!. I stroked and told the cats to wait, that I would be back, climbed out the window and swam toward what I could see was higher ground. I didn't know if I would make it. I had to stop twice to hold onto a tree to rest.,the wind and water was so strong. Finally I saw a house with the front doors slamming open and shut. It was on high ground! It was abandoned, the back doors were broken but it was dry! I found a towel and dry clothes and slept on a dry couch. At sun up the water was only at my waist. I walked down the road, got home, Luna and Faith were where I left them . I put them in their cat carrier and carried them out on my head. A rescue boat found us and brought us to safely, then an awesome volunteer drove us to a shelter.I am so grateful we are alive. We are staying with wonderful friends right now. Seeing my home, my car and all my possessions under water is daunting. I am soon to be 71 and am starting over. I have insurance which will cover a fraction of my losses. I know how fortunate I am. I appreciate any help you could offer. Thank you God Bless you all.
Organizzatore
Joanne Gore
Organizzatore
Fort Myers, FL