Dean Family Hurricane Harvey Relief
Donation protected
Coy Dean is 66 years old, an Independent Business Owner and his wife Patricia is 65 years old, a retired Registered Nurse (aka an angel) of 40+ years. This is their story of loss and need after Hurricane Harvey. We know there are so many affected and in need after this (and Harvey's angry girlfriend Irma) disaster. But please, read our story and if you can - help. Every little bit makes a HUGE difference. It is appreciated more than you know. - With love, the Dean family.
Their story...Helping The Dean Family
(Written by Mollie, daughter of Coy and Patricia)
My family has lived in the same house for 20 years come October. We have never experienced any Hurricanes like Harvey throughout the duration of our time in Katy, TX until Sunday, August 27th 2017.
Hurricane Harvey first started hitting Houston hard with rain on Friday, August 25th. After days of almost nonstop torrential rain, the city was forced to make a landmark decision. An entire neighborhood of 780 homes would all have to be flooded to relieve the reservoirs. By the time the decision was made at 5:00 PM Sunday evening, the evacuation notice had already come too late - water already starting to enter homes in the neighborhood. Water was litterally "at our back door", neither of my parents, Coy or Pattie, could use their vehicles to make it out and through the high water to leave that night.
When morning came they gathered a few of their prized possessions, mostly memories, that they could carry in two backpacks and set out to make it to the front of the neighborhood. My father, took off first with Hank (our three-legged rescue dog) to wade through the water that was already up to his rib cage. My father is 6ft 1in.
My mother waited behind for our other neighbor (who is also in her sixties) to set off for the front of the neighborhood. Before even getting to the end of the street my mother was already soaked as she slipped walking against the current. My mother's backpack was also drenched as she carried our 12-year-old dachshund with her. They left with no idea how bad it would truely get. How much water will get inside? Where will we go after this? Will be able to go back? Is this goodbye to our home of so many years?
My parents were both separately helped by boat halfway out by a gentleman that had come thirty minutes across town to help just because he had a boat and a truck, and well, this is Texas. Many blessings to the him and all of the humanity that has been shown during this time. Once out of the neighborhood my parents were met by one of our brothers in his truck at higher ground.
This however, was not to be the hardest part of the journey.
On Thursday, September 7th my parents were able to finally return to their home. The stinch was so bad that the time spent there was not long.
It was determined that this was beyond what any of us can do alone. Like so many others, we began searching and found one of the contractors who specializes in demos and just removed everything from the first floor. I'm not even sure the pictures do it justice.
They've lost their home, cars...everything it feels like. I know some may say, "it just things", but these things are more than that...they are their memories, a life they've both worked so hard to build together. And now its mostly gone. I don't this kind of blow is something anyone can really prepare for. Replacing and rebuilding my parent's lives is what is most important to us.
The insurance companies have undervalued both vehicles and the process for FEMA relief has been started, but as you can imagine is slow going and beyond stressful. My parents have four children who love them beyond measure and have been doing all they can to help them along the way, but if my parents were able to financially support themselves again I know it would be the weight of the world off their shoulders.
Anything will help. Thank you and God Bless.
Their story...Helping The Dean Family
(Written by Mollie, daughter of Coy and Patricia)
My family has lived in the same house for 20 years come October. We have never experienced any Hurricanes like Harvey throughout the duration of our time in Katy, TX until Sunday, August 27th 2017.
Hurricane Harvey first started hitting Houston hard with rain on Friday, August 25th. After days of almost nonstop torrential rain, the city was forced to make a landmark decision. An entire neighborhood of 780 homes would all have to be flooded to relieve the reservoirs. By the time the decision was made at 5:00 PM Sunday evening, the evacuation notice had already come too late - water already starting to enter homes in the neighborhood. Water was litterally "at our back door", neither of my parents, Coy or Pattie, could use their vehicles to make it out and through the high water to leave that night.
When morning came they gathered a few of their prized possessions, mostly memories, that they could carry in two backpacks and set out to make it to the front of the neighborhood. My father, took off first with Hank (our three-legged rescue dog) to wade through the water that was already up to his rib cage. My father is 6ft 1in.
My mother waited behind for our other neighbor (who is also in her sixties) to set off for the front of the neighborhood. Before even getting to the end of the street my mother was already soaked as she slipped walking against the current. My mother's backpack was also drenched as she carried our 12-year-old dachshund with her. They left with no idea how bad it would truely get. How much water will get inside? Where will we go after this? Will be able to go back? Is this goodbye to our home of so many years?
My parents were both separately helped by boat halfway out by a gentleman that had come thirty minutes across town to help just because he had a boat and a truck, and well, this is Texas. Many blessings to the him and all of the humanity that has been shown during this time. Once out of the neighborhood my parents were met by one of our brothers in his truck at higher ground.
This however, was not to be the hardest part of the journey.
On Thursday, September 7th my parents were able to finally return to their home. The stinch was so bad that the time spent there was not long.
It was determined that this was beyond what any of us can do alone. Like so many others, we began searching and found one of the contractors who specializes in demos and just removed everything from the first floor. I'm not even sure the pictures do it justice.
They've lost their home, cars...everything it feels like. I know some may say, "it just things", but these things are more than that...they are their memories, a life they've both worked so hard to build together. And now its mostly gone. I don't this kind of blow is something anyone can really prepare for. Replacing and rebuilding my parent's lives is what is most important to us.
The insurance companies have undervalued both vehicles and the process for FEMA relief has been started, but as you can imagine is slow going and beyond stressful. My parents have four children who love them beyond measure and have been doing all they can to help them along the way, but if my parents were able to financially support themselves again I know it would be the weight of the world off their shoulders.
Anything will help. Thank you and God Bless.
Organizer and beneficiary
Mika Schrimpf
Organizer
Katy, TX
Coy Dean
Beneficiary
