Hurricane Helene Family Relief Fund

Hi, my name is Dominic, and I’m reaching out with a heavy heart. My family and I were devastated by the recent flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. From our front window, we watched in disbelief as the water crept higher until it was knee-deep in our home. Our neighborhood in St. Pete was completely submerged, and in an instant, everything we’d worked for was ruined.

We never imagined the storm would be this severe. The infrastructure in our city couldn’t handle the storm surge, and the overflowing lake swept away homes and left destruction in its wake. In the middle of the night, my family and I huddled together on a bunk bed—two adults, three dogs, and two cats—terrified as we waited for the waters to recede. We couldn’t sleep; all we could do was hope that we’d make it through safely.

Unfortunately, the damage was worse than we ever expected. Like so many others in our neighborhood, we lost nearly everything. Our home is in ruins, and we’re now thousands of miles away, staying with a relative in Maryland, with the daunting uncertainty of what comes next hanging over us. We had to leave behind almost everything we owned, and now we face the possibility of never being able to return home.

Right now, we are doing our best to stay strong, but the financial burden is overwhelming. We still have bills to pay, and some of us need to find work just to stay afloat. We’re waiting anxiously for any word from the city about our home, but with so much damage, we’re bracing ourselves for the worst.

We’re asking for your help to support us through this incredibly difficult time. Any donation, big or small, will make a huge difference in helping us cover our bills, find temporary housing, and begin the process of rebuilding our lives. Your generosity means the world to us, and it will help us take the first steps toward healing and recovery after this unimaginable loss.

Thank you so much for reading our story and for any support you can offer. We appreciate it more than words can express.

(the view down my street a few hours after high tide)

(the water line at our house)