Hurricane-Help for Brandi&Larry

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has shared your concern, offered to help and offered up prayers for our niece/daughter/sister, Brandi Lee Winger. Most importantly she and Larry, her fiancé, are safe. They are residents of Rockport, TX a small coastal town outside of Corpus Christi that was hit directly when Hurricane Harvey made landfall. They evacuated and are safe, which is most important. They have been allowed back into Rockport and unfortunately, they have lost everything. The bungalow in which they lived was destroyed, along with all of their belongings. They have also temporarily lost their jobs. Brandi worked for her landlord, who not only lost all the bungalows on his property but also his own home, and a restaurant in town, also destroyed. Larry works in construction on the docks. It will be some time before either are able to return to work. Rockport is currently without electricity or water and is under a strict curfew with the presence of the National Guard. They have secured housing in Corpus Christi for the month of September (without FEMA) and are currently spending their days sifting through the rubble.

Although they have applied for FEMA, they have not heard from anyone as of yet. I’m sure the agency is overwhelmed due to the enormity of this disaster; however, how much help they will ultimately provide with so many in need is unknown. Apparently they are also directing people to apply for a small business loan https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/30/business/harvey-aid-sba-disaster-loans.html . How do they expect someone who has lost everything, including their jobs, and are just trying to get through the next day, to pay back a loan?

This Go Fund Me page is being set up by Brandi's Aunt Jan (Janica) from New York & her family specifically to help this amazing hard working couple get through the next few months until they can resume a semi-normal life. Rockport is their home, they love it there and plan to stay and help rebuild. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.  Although Brandi's immediate family has secured housing for them for September, the funds raised by this campaign will be used to help Brandi & Larry secure more permanent housing and pay for bills and neccessities until they can return to work. (This includes rent, car payments, car insurance, gas, food, clothing & everyday needs)

Please continue to pray for Brandi and Larry and the city of Rockport and the state of Texas. We are truly blessed that our loved ones are alive and safe and offer our heartfelt condolences to anyone who lost someone in this terrible tragedy.

The city of Rockport has indicated that 30-40% of houses and business have been destroyed and 30% are substandard and cannot be rebuilt. If you would like to donate to the city of Rockport, the Chamber of Commerce has also set up a Go Fund Me page: https://www.gofundme.com/Hurricane-Harvey-Fund-for-Rockport-Fulton .