Tropical Storm Fred started out as a heavy rain storm at my cousin Robert Robinson's West Asheville home on the afternoon of August 17. Before long, though, his backyard creek breached its banks, water crept up to the back door, and all their efforts to bail out and soak up the water proved futile against what had become a full-blown flood. In the end, just a few inches of water left an estimated $50,000 in damage to the flooring, drywall, cabinetry and more. Robert is a schoolteacher who lives there with his wife Siobhan, two kids, and his elderly father. Through no fault of their own, the Robinsons suddenly find themselves in a quagmire, facing unimaginable costs just to get back to normal.
Insurance money is unlikely to help out, and government assistance is a long shot. Fortunately, a friend with room to spare has offered them a place to stay in the near term, and a personal connection to local flood remediation pros has helped them begin work immediately, while others affected locally are facing long wait times. They have a long road ahead.
The Robinsons asked me to express their gratitude to everyone who has already reached out with messages of encouragement. For those of you who also wish to help support the financing of their recovery effort, thank you for your contribution to this fund.