Help Jim & Cat Rebuild

Hi. I’m Sarah Votta, friend of Jim Denman and Catherine Upperman. After watching our friends lose so much to the flood, we wanted to set up a way for people to help. Jim and Cat appreciate all of the support. Here is their story:

Wednesday night, September 1, Hurricane Ida drenched Downingtown. That evening as the power went out, Cat scrambled to grab the cat carriers in the basement and reposition cars and belongings not knowing what might happen. As water filled the basement covering every step onto the first floor, Cat grabbed Moose and Tails on each arm and trudged thru the thigh-high flood water to her neighbors third story apartment. She watched from the window as flood waters rose and cars floated dangerously close to her front door. The horrible nightmare was really happening. Jim had the unfortunate task of received multiple phone calls that night but wasn’t able to do anything as the storm devastated their home. He was in Virgina for a different emotional event, the funeral of his grandmother. Hour after hour they realized this storm was going to require significant cleanup but they didn’t know the full extent until the following morning. As the sun rose Thursday morning, Cat went to assess the damage. The alarms were still going off, the smell was pungent, and the damage was undeniable. Everything in the basement was lost. Car parts, sentimental paintings, tons of photo albums and records were covered in mud. Clothes, furniture, guitars, and food were soaking wet. Both Cats car and Jim’s SUV were flooded and unusable. Cat was safe. The cats were safe. All of their belongings were not. It took them 4 days and countless hands to help remove their life from that apartment. Thousands of dollars sat at the end of the driveway as trash. About a foot and a half of water on the first floor made their apartment unlivable and renters insurance doesn’t cover floods.

Thankfully Jim and Cat have a place to stay with Jim’s brother for the foreseeable future. Jim can work remotely from there as Cat finishes classes for her developer certification. She does not have her car anymore to get to and from work, but is looking to purchase a new vehicle. At this point, they do not even know what they need but they’re taking it all one step at a time.

Any donation goes to rebuilding their life and their future. They are extremely grateful for all of the help and have acknowledged on many accounts how lucky they are compared to some other families.

Thank you for helping this wonderful couple.