Bender Family Flood Recovery

Dear Family, Friends, & Our Wider Community,

Billy & I are reaching out today with an urgent call for help! Thousands of North Carolinians have become victims of the tragic and utter devastation that Hurricane Florence has left in its wake. Our family in Burgaw (within Pender County) became just that as the massive swelling of the Northeast Cape Fear River flooded their ranch home rendering it an uninhabitable wasteland to attempt to salvage and rebuild. Billy’s brother Steven, his wife Allison, & their children Zac & Kim, have lost nearly all their personal possessions to the Cape Fear River’s deluge.

It’s been nearly three weeks now and people who weren’t affected by Hurricane Florence are already moving on with their lives yet for the members of our family in North Carolina, the hardship they are enduring has proven itself to be one that will span many months to come. The whole experience is immensely exhausting both physically & mentally for them all. 
 
Displaced from their home, they are currently blessed with having a place to temporarily live and most importantly, are all safe. At the same time, they still must continue to pay their mortgage, pay rent for their current residence, purchase food, clothing, toiletries, household goods, & furniture all the while requiring major amounts of money to even begin the recovery process. This entails removing all the raw sewerage, chemical waste, silt & mud that has seeped in, gutting the house down to its studs, & remediating the massively accumulating mold. This exorbitant expense all must be addressed before they can even consider rebuilding, refurnishing & installing all new appliances for everything was destroyed. They do not have flood insurance yet were able to meet with FEMA and are hopeful about some assistance in that regard. Not knowing how much, or even when any monetary resources might be dispersed, they are in desperate need of immediate financial support so as to halt the onslaught of damage that is advancing within their home each & every day.     
 
Looking from the top of the hill leading to their cul-de-sac. The Bender family's house is to the left hidden behind the street sign and brush. Notice the height of the water by the sign & the back home...the Cape Fear River was still rising at this point & hadn't reached it's peak.


The flood water entered the house up to 3 feet throughout.


The first round of debris removed...nothing is salvageable when one's entire home sits in contaminated river water for 10 days straight

As I'm writing this, I cannot help but think about a well-known statement that Steve recently posted which I believe sums up all the wonderfulness that typifies this family, even in times of such intense hardship: ”Life is 10% what happens to you & 90% how you handle it,” he posted to his friends & family. Their optimism & compassion for others in spite of their own adversity shines ever so brightly.

Allison, being an elementary school teacher, is learning everything she possibly can when it comes to the procedures & hoops one must go through to access help within the government & local systems. She is continuously informing others on how & where to get help & support despite her own family’s tragedy.

  Steven & Allison Bender


In the face of the storm, Steve & Zac first raced to assist their neighbors who, on lower ground, were certain to flood as they had years back with Hurricane Floyd. They did indeed flood & their house was submerged all the way to its roof’s eaves. Thankfully, with the help of Steve & Zac, they were at least able to pack a moving van full of belongings.

Zac & Allison Bender
 

Then there’s our niece Kim who, instead of worrying about her own personal belongings as the storm rolled in, fought to save 2 Huskies she learned were locked up and abandoned in the bathroom of a house trailer in the community. Along with a friend, she was able to rescue them & with the help of the Pender County Sheriff and Animal Shelter employees, they are alive and well.