My name is Ginger Raymond and I am from the Kamauoha 'Ohana. Our family of 12 has just experienced the unimaginable. The recent Kona Low Storm hit our home in Laie in the middle of the night with no warning, flooding our two-acre property and leaving us with almost nothing. We lost many of our animals, several vehicles, and everything we worked so hard to build living off the land. The water rose so quickly that by the time we tried to leave, there was already five feet of water. My family includes seniors, elders, and infants, and I recently had major knee surgery, making it impossible for me to get to safety on my own. My nephew had to walk me out on a kayak as the water kept rising.

We are currently staying in a shelter provided by our church, but we don't know where we'll go next. Our home, which is six feet off the ground, still had water pouring in, and my nephew's house was a foot and a half deep in water. The storm took everything from us—our generator, propane tanks, and the supplies we rely on to live off-grid. Now, we have no gas or propane to clean up or start rebuilding, and the local stores are wiped out of what we need. The uncertainty is overwhelming, but we are doing our best to stay hopeful and keep our family safe.

We are reaching out for help because we can't do this alone. Any support you can give will help us with immediate needs to get our family back on track. Appreciation doesn't even touch what you all are helping us with. Your kindness will truly make a difference for our 'ohana as we work to recover and rebuild.