Betsy Hasselquist's House Fund

Betsy Hasselquist, my sister, lost her home this week to a flood.  She lives in the country just outside Paola, KS on Wea Creek, normally a quiet meandering creek.  Tuesday morning, August 22, that changed.  Twelve (12) inches of rain poured down in a very short period of time. 
Betsy woke early that morning to find that her yard had flooded and it soon entered her home.  Very quickly it reached hip deep in her home.  She called 911 and the response team dispatched help.  She climbed out her upstairs window (dog in tow) to the roof where they were able to hand her down into the waiting boat.  (Thank you to those who rescued her).

The devastation was immense.  Betsy’s home will have to be completely rebuilt if she can even stay on the property.   All her furnishings and appliances were ravaged. Her outbuildings and all that was in them were also flooded.  Her car was flooded. 

Betsy had no flood insurance for her home and outbuildings.

Her home is where her heart and her history is.  She has lived there for 38 years.  Betsy gave birth to her two sons in that home and raised them to be outstanding men. 

Betsy loves living in the country and is a master gardener.  Her garden was also lost.

The outpouring of support has been heartwarming.  Friends and neighbors showed up with equipment, muscle and food to help as we salvaged what was possible, trashed what was destroyed and began to dismantle the walls and flooring to see if there was any hope of saving the house.  It is mindblowing how fast mold sets in and what has to be done in the clean up process.

Many people have asked how they could help.  And, so, this is a way that people who want to help can do so.  Any money raised will go directly into building and furnishing Betsy’s home. 

If anyone has any questions, I am happy to answer them.