Their Lives Washed Away in Texas

Please Help My Family Rebuild After the Devastating Texas Floods

My name is Sara, and I’m from Austin, just a stone’s throw from where my sister and her family live. I’m not someone who usually asks for help. But right now, my family is facing an overwhelming and heartbreaking situation—and I’m reaching out with hope, humility, and a deep belief in the kindness of community.

For 22 years my husband and I together, have cared for my mother through 15 challenging years of Alzheimer’s, and now we’re doing the same for my father, as he battles the same cruel disease. It has been an emotional and exhausting journey, one we’ve carried with love and unwavering commitment. Over the past year, my sister Emily has stepped in as a vital support, sharing this heavy burden when we needed her most.

Now, Emily is the one who needs help.

Emily, her husband Dan, Dan’s elderly parents, and our mom were all displaced by the catastrophic floods that swept through Travis County Texas. Their home suffered severe damage and will require a complete gutting and rebuilding from the ground up.

Because their home was outside a designated flood zone, they did not have flood insurance—turning this tragedy into an even more devastating loss. Almost everything inside was destroyed, and heartbreakingly, they also lost many of their cherished animals in the flood—most of their small outdoor animals, including mini goats and their babies, their cat, chickens, ducks, and more. These animals were not just pets or livestock; they were part of their daily lives, their joy, and their connection to the land.

Emily has always been a hard worker. She holds a modest administrative job and supplements her income with part-time massage therapy. Dan works long hours in a warehouse for an electric company. They’ve lived paycheck to paycheck while caring for Dan’s aging parents, who live with them and help supplement. Though their contribution helps, it’s not nearly enough to cover the costs of supporting a multigenerational household.

To add to the challenge, Dan’s parents furnished rental space was fully destroyed. Their personal losses included their clothing, personal items like family, photos, and personal documents, mementos. 

The loss of the furnished living leaves an added burden on my sister. So in addition to losing their home, they have almost nothing left to call their own. The only things that remain to call their own is some clothes and some games.

They face the monumental task of rebuilding everything from the floor up—flooring, electrical wiring, drywall, appliances, furniture, kitchen essentials, fencing—everything must be replaced. On top of that, four vehicles were lost in the flood. Insurance did not even covered the remaining loan balances, leaving them with nothing to help purchase replacements. They now urgently need to buy commuter vehicles—ideally four—to return to work, attend medical appointments, and manage the daily challenges of life.

If you’re able to offer support—whether through donations, supplies, connections, or simply sharing their story via “gofundme”—it would mean more than words can express. Every bit of help brings hope and strength to our family in this incredibly difficult time.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your kindness, compassion, and generosity.