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Hello my name is Brenda Baird this is my Louisiana families flood story.
I am proud to have a beautiful family I am their mom/grandmother/ma ma B; Daniel/Tracey, Stephen/Kelly, & Jessica/Hunter the Jarrell's.
Between them I am blessed with almost 11 grandchildren:
Christopher13, Hayden 12, Jestin 10, MiKayla 10, Ashlyn 8, Aubrey 8, Tristen & Trinity 8, Briley 6, Brooklyn 4, and one on the way.
They all live in Louisiana and with the flooding have expenses rising quickly. This is my family I am raising the money for. They need the money quickly as they are spending money everyday to survive. We appreciate whatever you can give.
My oldest son Daniel Jarrell and his family; Tracey, Chris, Hayden, MiKayla, Tristen, Trinity, & Brooklyn were evacuated Saturday August 13 as flood water began seeping into their home. They had no place to go with water all around them and no shelters available they spent the night on an overpass near their home.
My daughter Jessica Jarrell who is 8+ months pregnant and her children Jestin and Aubrey were separated from Hunter after not being able to get to their home and flooded out of two others she went to stay with her brother Daniel (as Hunter went with his) and was evacuated again to the overpass with their families.
My son Stephen Jarrell and his family Kelly, Ashlyn, & Briley were separated as Kelly went to her mothers with the girls. Steve spent vigil watching the water rise about 50 yards from his house and flood his neighbors across the road. All night the water rose and fearing looters too he watched worrying of his siblings fate as the phones quit working and last word was water entering their homes.
Come morning Daniel and Jessica with their group were still on the overpass with only the Cracker Barrel store for relief, food, and water. Eight children and three adults were stuck on this overpass for more then 16 hours before they finally found a slim piece of road to get out and head toward Mississippi and a hotel room to rest Sunday evening.
My son Stephen and I relayed messages back and forth to the one phone my daughter had sporadically working with me as the middle man since they could not message each other. They were all safe but water still surrounded them and no one knew what was going to happen next.
Stephen drove to his wife and children as his home was safe. The drive through the waters was slow; two and a half hours on a 15 minute drive he caught up with them. He tried to get to his siblings and help them escape the overpass but without communications available they crossed paths on opposite sides of the water. He could not get through and then the message came they were safe in a hotel in McComb, MS.
Monday, Daniel and Jessica's crew inched closer but were still kept from moving back to their homes. Deep water and road closings all around. Another long day trying to get somewhere to no avail stopping an hour out at another hotel in Covington. Expenses are rising as no one can get home.
The word comes in Hunter spent the last few days in a parking lot with about 100 others compiling their bits of food to keep going; water ran out hours before the National Guard finally found them; then passing out MRE's and water. A helicopter came by offering help for a price. Who does that??
This is not your typical disaster as there was no notice and many woke up to water on their floors stepping out of bed into it. These parishes are above sea level. This could happen ANYWHERE. Just 40 minutes north of my children in the town they grew up in there hadn't been this much flooding in 80 + years.
The numerous parishes were caught off guard no warning. Water rose too quickly and families were shuffled from place to place trying to escape. 30,000 are rescued and another 20,000 are in shelters. There was no time; animals, vehicles, personal belongings were left behind to wash away in the floods. No time to grab much...
My daughter has a picture her Nan made I gave her, a box with photo's and a few sets of clothes. My son wasn't able to grab much more as all they had was a vehicle to fit the children and those things in.
School just started.... school uniforms and all the things that go along with school were just purchased. All the baby items were purchased as the new baby isn't far from here. There are two boxes somewhere supposed to arrive there Friday-Monday 28 pieces for the baby shower supposed to come next week, but maybe not. Life is at a stand still.
Tuesday another day out of work and expenses rising; Steve found his way through the water to Daniel's house reports of a foot of water still in the house. Then he met up with the roving crew. Breakfast and on to a walk through as the water has receded enough to get in. Spent the day pulling carpet up and running fans many things to consider saving or not. Now the watch for mold and major decisions ahead. No word on Jessica's home, but I found a video showing the end of her street under water and there was word a family had to be rescued from their roof in the area so the outcome does not sound promising.
No flood insurance due to the homes are not considered to be in a flood zone. FEMA is available BUT you have to wait for it and they may not approve your claim. So, its a wait and see.... Families can't wait. The house can't wait they need to clean up and rebuild. Expenses on top of expenses. There is no way to know how long they will be out of work. My son's store is closed and Hunter's workplace is under water. Kelly's school is closed, Steve and Tracey have flooded roads to get to there workplaces at this time. No one knows how long the children will be out of school as many are flooded. Life as they know it has stopped.
This is my story and these are my loves. We are blessed with life. I may not have slept well the last four nights, but I woke up... we all woke up. Things in Louisiana are devastating, unimaginable, unprecedented, and we pray once in a lifetime occurrence. It's going to be a long slow process to get back the things they need and place of their own again.
Please pray for my family and if you find it in your hearts to donate we greatly appreciate your help
.
The funds will be spent to help rebuild i.e. carpet, cabinets, flooring, walls, electrical wiring, paint, generator (no electric until the wires are checked and reworked) dehumidifier to dry out the house, fans too; for everyday needs i.e. food, clothing, school needs, shoes, towels, dishes, furniture, beds, bedding, maybe refrigerators and stoves (still need to check these out). Baby clothes, baby bed, car seat, highchair, rocker, bottles, bedding, food, formula (all lost); might need an a/c unit (still checking). To offset lost wages (if neccessary). Hotel costs, gas, vehicle repairs (if necessary) whatever is not covered to rebuild two complete households; this is a large group....
I Brenda Baird will be responsible for withdrawing the funds and splitting them to pay for my children's needs; sending the money via Western Union or whatever venue is availble to get the funds to them.
THANK YOU!!
Let the healing begin!
I am proud to have a beautiful family I am their mom/grandmother/ma ma B; Daniel/Tracey, Stephen/Kelly, & Jessica/Hunter the Jarrell's.
Between them I am blessed with almost 11 grandchildren:
Christopher13, Hayden 12, Jestin 10, MiKayla 10, Ashlyn 8, Aubrey 8, Tristen & Trinity 8, Briley 6, Brooklyn 4, and one on the way.
They all live in Louisiana and with the flooding have expenses rising quickly. This is my family I am raising the money for. They need the money quickly as they are spending money everyday to survive. We appreciate whatever you can give.
My oldest son Daniel Jarrell and his family; Tracey, Chris, Hayden, MiKayla, Tristen, Trinity, & Brooklyn were evacuated Saturday August 13 as flood water began seeping into their home. They had no place to go with water all around them and no shelters available they spent the night on an overpass near their home.
My daughter Jessica Jarrell who is 8+ months pregnant and her children Jestin and Aubrey were separated from Hunter after not being able to get to their home and flooded out of two others she went to stay with her brother Daniel (as Hunter went with his) and was evacuated again to the overpass with their families.
My son Stephen Jarrell and his family Kelly, Ashlyn, & Briley were separated as Kelly went to her mothers with the girls. Steve spent vigil watching the water rise about 50 yards from his house and flood his neighbors across the road. All night the water rose and fearing looters too he watched worrying of his siblings fate as the phones quit working and last word was water entering their homes.
Come morning Daniel and Jessica with their group were still on the overpass with only the Cracker Barrel store for relief, food, and water. Eight children and three adults were stuck on this overpass for more then 16 hours before they finally found a slim piece of road to get out and head toward Mississippi and a hotel room to rest Sunday evening.
My son Stephen and I relayed messages back and forth to the one phone my daughter had sporadically working with me as the middle man since they could not message each other. They were all safe but water still surrounded them and no one knew what was going to happen next.
Stephen drove to his wife and children as his home was safe. The drive through the waters was slow; two and a half hours on a 15 minute drive he caught up with them. He tried to get to his siblings and help them escape the overpass but without communications available they crossed paths on opposite sides of the water. He could not get through and then the message came they were safe in a hotel in McComb, MS.
Monday, Daniel and Jessica's crew inched closer but were still kept from moving back to their homes. Deep water and road closings all around. Another long day trying to get somewhere to no avail stopping an hour out at another hotel in Covington. Expenses are rising as no one can get home.
The word comes in Hunter spent the last few days in a parking lot with about 100 others compiling their bits of food to keep going; water ran out hours before the National Guard finally found them; then passing out MRE's and water. A helicopter came by offering help for a price. Who does that??
This is not your typical disaster as there was no notice and many woke up to water on their floors stepping out of bed into it. These parishes are above sea level. This could happen ANYWHERE. Just 40 minutes north of my children in the town they grew up in there hadn't been this much flooding in 80 + years.
The numerous parishes were caught off guard no warning. Water rose too quickly and families were shuffled from place to place trying to escape. 30,000 are rescued and another 20,000 are in shelters. There was no time; animals, vehicles, personal belongings were left behind to wash away in the floods. No time to grab much...
My daughter has a picture her Nan made I gave her, a box with photo's and a few sets of clothes. My son wasn't able to grab much more as all they had was a vehicle to fit the children and those things in.
School just started.... school uniforms and all the things that go along with school were just purchased. All the baby items were purchased as the new baby isn't far from here. There are two boxes somewhere supposed to arrive there Friday-Monday 28 pieces for the baby shower supposed to come next week, but maybe not. Life is at a stand still.
Tuesday another day out of work and expenses rising; Steve found his way through the water to Daniel's house reports of a foot of water still in the house. Then he met up with the roving crew. Breakfast and on to a walk through as the water has receded enough to get in. Spent the day pulling carpet up and running fans many things to consider saving or not. Now the watch for mold and major decisions ahead. No word on Jessica's home, but I found a video showing the end of her street under water and there was word a family had to be rescued from their roof in the area so the outcome does not sound promising.
No flood insurance due to the homes are not considered to be in a flood zone. FEMA is available BUT you have to wait for it and they may not approve your claim. So, its a wait and see.... Families can't wait. The house can't wait they need to clean up and rebuild. Expenses on top of expenses. There is no way to know how long they will be out of work. My son's store is closed and Hunter's workplace is under water. Kelly's school is closed, Steve and Tracey have flooded roads to get to there workplaces at this time. No one knows how long the children will be out of school as many are flooded. Life as they know it has stopped.
This is my story and these are my loves. We are blessed with life. I may not have slept well the last four nights, but I woke up... we all woke up. Things in Louisiana are devastating, unimaginable, unprecedented, and we pray once in a lifetime occurrence. It's going to be a long slow process to get back the things they need and place of their own again.
Please pray for my family and if you find it in your hearts to donate we greatly appreciate your help
.
The funds will be spent to help rebuild i.e. carpet, cabinets, flooring, walls, electrical wiring, paint, generator (no electric until the wires are checked and reworked) dehumidifier to dry out the house, fans too; for everyday needs i.e. food, clothing, school needs, shoes, towels, dishes, furniture, beds, bedding, maybe refrigerators and stoves (still need to check these out). Baby clothes, baby bed, car seat, highchair, rocker, bottles, bedding, food, formula (all lost); might need an a/c unit (still checking). To offset lost wages (if neccessary). Hotel costs, gas, vehicle repairs (if necessary) whatever is not covered to rebuild two complete households; this is a large group....
I Brenda Baird will be responsible for withdrawing the funds and splitting them to pay for my children's needs; sending the money via Western Union or whatever venue is availble to get the funds to them.
THANK YOU!!
Let the healing begin!