Macaluso Family Hurricane Ian Fund

Hello, Everyone - It's Holly. I've never put up a GoFundMe before! But here I am, in a bit of teary-eyed shock, sending a gentle request out to anyone who might have a bit to spare for my family who have been displaced by Hurricane Ian.

I'm raising money to help my in-laws, the Macaluso Family, who were hit by the storm in Fort Myers, Florida.

My amazing sister-in-law, Dina, her husband Mike, and family had recently (only a few months ago) purchased a condo in Fort Myers, after leaving the Midwest. No one could have foreseen what was to come. Fortunately, everyone in the family, Dina, Mike, Jessie (their oldest daughter), Connie (my mother-in-law - Dina's and my husband's mom), Justin (their youngest son), and their two dogs and two kitties, were able to make it through the storm on the second floor of their condo.

During the storm, the entire first floor of their home was inundated with over 5 feet of rushing storm surge floodwater; but thankfully, the floodwaters crested before entering their second floor, and they were spared from having to crawl onto their rooftop.

They were stuck for a few days, unable to get rescue from their neighborhood, as FEMA needed to focus their initial efforts on people and families in the barrier islands. They and their neighbors were able to pool together water, food and other resources while they waited. Everyone is currently safe and sound (albeit without power, water or plumbing!).

As the weekend approached, their middle daughter, Jacqueline, was able to come to their aid after driving for 8 hours from Jacksonville thru flooded roads, downed powerlines and many, many detours to reach them. With Jac's help they are now able to charge their phones via her car, and get transportation. :-)

Due to the timing, they did not have active flood insurance yet, so the losses are larger than expected.

I am sending so many prayers out to the families in Florida. I know some people were not as lucky as we were. It is a difficult thing, emotionally, to be cut off from family when you know they need help. I am eternally grateful for crowdfunding platforms and the power they have to help people in need.

My husband and I, and the Macaluso Family (we call them "the Macs"), thank you in advance for all of your kind hugs and financial help!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Video of the water in the neighborhood while it was still rising: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjRM7YwD1cs/