Help Eric and Hope Rebuild After Hurricane Helene

Title: Help Eric and Hope Rebuild After Hurricane Helene

Story:

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted supporters,

My name is Laurie Shires, and I am writing on behalf of my brother, Eric Justice, my sister-in-law, Hope Justice (Millard), and their beloved cat, Raina. I live in Colora, Maryland, and Eric and Hope have lived in the Tampa Bay area for almost 20 years. Recently, they experienced a devastating loss due to Hurricane Helene, which flooded their home in the Riviera Bay neighborhood of St. Petersburg, Florida. When they purchased this home in 2021, it made the both of them first-time homeowners. In this disaster, they lost not only their home but also Hope’s car, leaving them in a challenging situation.

The Impact of Hurricane Helene:

As the storm approached, Eric and Hope took every precaution. Their home, built in 1957, had never flooded before, and they felt confident in their decision to purchase it in 2021, believing they were in a safe, water-oriented community. Sadly, Hurricane Helene brought the worst flooding to their area in over 100 years, and they watched in horror as their belongings were submerged and destroyed. Most of their furniture and appliances were lost. The aftermath has been overwhelming, and they quickly realized that the financial burden from this disaster would be far too great to shoulder alone.

The Financial Strain:

Despite having flood insurance, they learned that it’s managed through FEMA, which means they face significant limitations. Their flood insurance will only cover a fraction of their losses since they only cover the “actual cash value” of their belongings. After their $5,000 deductible, they may receive minimal to nothing to replace over $20,000 worth of belongings. Unfortunately, they also learned that FEMA does not provide assistance for temporary housing, leaving them to cover both their mortgage and the costs of living elsewhere while their home is repaired.

Current Living Situation:

We are in the process of trying to get a friend's camper to them from Maryland to Florida, but are having difficulty figuring out how to transport the camper. Along with trying to figure out where to live, they are navigating a maze of contractors, insurance adjusters, and mounting expenses, all while trying to cope with the emotional toll of losing their home.

Why We Need Your Help:

We are seeking to raise $25,000 to help Eric and Hope cover:

Temporary Housing: Assistance with rent or other living arrangements while their home is uninhabitable, while at the same time also responsible to continue paying their mortgage. This may also include costs with transporting a camper and setting up electric in the backyard for a camper hookup.

Repair and Restoration Costs: Funding for essential immediate repairs and replacing destroyed furniture, appliances, clothing, and Hope’s car.

Living Expenses: Support for day-to-day costs as they work through this difficult period.

How You Can Help:

Donate: Any contribution, no matter how small, will significantly help them as they navigate this crisis.

Share: Please share this campaign with your network. The more people who know about their story, the more support we can gather.

Reach Out: If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to contact me directly. I’m happy to provide more details, and answer any questions you have about the insurance situation or anything else you would like to know to feel more comfortable about donating.

Conclusion:

This has been an incredibly challenging time for Eric and Hope, and your support can help ease their burden as they work to rebuild their lives. Asking for help is something they never thought they'd have to do. Thank you for taking the time to read their story and for considering a contribution. Together, we can help them find hope and healing in this difficult time.

With gratitude,

Laurie Shires