Help Your Friend Diane Zazzali DeBella Recover from Disaster

Photo: Diane and her friends resting after some initial cleanup at her destroyed home - we love the message on her shirt!

Hi, this is Laura (Edmondson) Amerman and Sarah (Deetz) Edsall, we're lifelong friends of Diane Zazzali DeBella. We're asking you to support your friend Diane through the recent, heartbreaking flood of her home in Vermont.

You may think, "Oh, that's what insurance is for..." Tragically for Diane, because she lives ON TOP of a hill, and had what she thought (and was told by experts) was sufficient sump pump and drainage infrastructure, flood insurance was not an option.

You may recall seeing the news on national media about the "unprecedented" flooding in Vermont earlier this year. You probably thought, "That's awful, I'm glad it wasn't me..." Sadly, your friend Diane (and many others) bore the brunt of the disaster.

You may be surprised (or not) to learn that people whose homes were destroyed by the “unprecedented” flooding that devastated Vermont over a year ago still have not received any assistance from FEMA. Two years in a row…the unprecedented is now the norm.

Like many of us, Diane's home is her retirement plan. After she moved East to care for her mother, she renovated the entire downstairs of their house so she could live close to her Mom. Eventually, her mom's needs required her to live in a skilled nursing facility. So Diane planned to use the renovated space she invested so much in for rental income and to support her future retirement plans.

Complicating Diane's situation is a complex health condition that is exacerbated by stress. So what you see here is a perfect storm of crisis for our friend.

You may know Diane well enough to remember she has dedicated her entire professional career to education and is a noted author of many blogs, articles, and books about women's experiences. You can read more about her accomplishments here. And, as you probably know, a career such as Diane's doesn't come with a lot of financial wiggle room for when things go horribly wrong.

What we've always known is Diane is a survivor and a fighter. She's committed to justice and the rights of women, especially. She excels at everything she puts her hand to. EXCEPT asking for help for herself. We had to twist Diane's arm a bit to get her to even agree to let us start this campaign.

However, the disaster is of such magnitude that it's necessary. The costs of the recovery of her home are nearing the $50,000 mark. It's not just drywall and carpet, or paint and tile. Diane and her friends have already dedicated tremendous sweat equity to what they could handle. But more is needed. Excavation of the foundation and installation of proper drains and pumps to handle future climate disasters are needed. It's overwhelming to think about, much less figure out how to pay for it.

That's where YOU come in. That's where WE ALL come in. Won't you please contribute today to help your friend, Diane? Your caring gift will support Diane not only financially but will remind her that there are so many friends in her corner.

Please make a generous gift today!