Help Jan Rebuild After Hurricane Helene

Unfortunately, this story is not unique—far from it.

Today, as I write this, more people in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina face similar or worse challenges than our simple imaginations can comprehend.

With that agreed upon, I need to make something clear.

I am not making this appeal based on Jan’s uniqueness.

I am not making this appeal because it is so dramatic that it deserves your attention.

I am not making this appeal because it speaks to a broader social issue.

I am making this appeal because it is the only thing I can do.

My good friend, a man I call my brother, is now facing a challenge that he cannot overcome without help from others. He is far too humble to ask for it directly, so I am asking on his behalf. In the face of what he needs, it is all that I can do.

My name is Rob Nelson. I have been Jan Moniot's friend for over a decade. We met when his sons joined Scouts, and he lived on Staten Island. I have been there through all of the good and the bad. He is, and always will be, the closest thing to a brother I have ever had.

When Hurricane Helene moved into the Gulf of Mexico, Jan evacuated to a friend’s home in Gainesville. He was comforted that two of his three children were away at school, and he only needed to worry about his safety. The safety of his oldest child was of constant concern, even before the storm, but that is a matter for later.

When the storm had passed, he returned to find that while the flood waters had receded, his troubles were just starting to surge.

His modest, single-level, two-bedroom home was inundated with over three feet of water. Every piece of furniture, appliance, heirloom, and keepsake, as well as the tools he used to earn a living as a contractor, was covered in a foul slurry of saltwater, canal water, and sewage. Nothing was salvageable.

Here, you can see just a glimpse of what he has begun to dispose of.

So that he could afford to support two children in college, he had to minimize his insurance cost and was forced to drop his contents policy. This means he will need more money to replace his belongings or assist him in relocating while he rebuilds. His insurance will not even begin to cover the expenses he will face while trying to repair his home.

As I said before, today, there are thousands and thousands of stories like Jan’s, but I can only tell his.

And this is what I know from being his friend for well over a decade.

He is the living embodiment of a family man. His entire life and work are dedicated to ensuring the health and happiness of his children, and he has done so alone for some time now and not without dealing with other issues that - taken alone - would break the best of us.

Six and a half years ago, Jan tragically and suddenly lost his wife to an aneurysm. He was left to raise his two teenage sons and young daughter alone. And it was no easy task.

After the highly sudden death of his mother, Jan’s oldest son began to exhibit signs of severe mental illness that spiraled into what can only be called a vortex of misery. Because of the insidious nature of mental illness, Jan was unable to get his son the care he needed. This resulted in his son subjecting himself, and by extension Jan’s family, to a steady drumbeat of drugs, violence, arrest, incarceration, and psychiatric committals. Only to have the same horrific procession begin all over when his son was inevitably released. The legal, medical, and other bills mounted. He worked 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week, so his children would be comfortable. Then things began to improve.

With his middle child attending college, he feared staying in rural Pennsylvania would not be ideal for his young daughter, so he decided to reallocate to Florida for a better life.

And he found it until last week.

The tiny home he had found for himself and his daughter was paradise—their little escape from all that happened up north—an oasis in a relatively unkind world.

And then, Helene.

Is there drama? Yes, but I am sure there are far more tragic stories. This is just the story I can tell.

Now comes the plea.

Help, even in the slightest way, and give just a little so that Jan and his family can begin to find solid ground again.

And rest assured that your donation is going towards trying to turn a good man’s bad fortune around.

How Your Donation Will Help:

Replacing Essential Items: Clothing, furniture, and everyday household essentials were all lost in the storm. Your donation will help Jan replace these necessities.

Temporary Relocation Assistance: While his home is rebuilt, Jan and his family need a safe and stable place to stay.

The funds will be used for temporary housing and living expenses.

Rebuilding His Home: He also needs help to rebuild his home so he and his children can return to a sense of normalcy as quickly as possible.

1. Flood Mitigation

Flood mitigation covers the immediate actions needed to address water damage and prevent future flooding risks. This also includes clean-up, mold remediation, and repairs.

Total Estimated Cost for Flood Mitigation: $14,500 - $48,800

2. Clothing Replacement

Clothing replacement focuses on basic wardrobe needs, including seasonal clothing for work and everyday life.

Total Estimated Cost for Clothing Replacement: $1,350 - $3,100

3. Contracting Tool Replacement

Tools are essential for contractors' livelihoods. Replacing tools lost in the flood will allow them to resume work quickly.

Total Estimated Cost for Tool Replacement: $2,600 - $8,900