My name is Nikia Cave, and I’m reaching out because I don’t know where else to turn. In the span of one month, my home has flooded three times (two of those times were in less than one weeks timeframe!), and despite doing everything I was supposed to do as a homeowner, I continue to hit roadblock after roadblock. This story isn’t just about my house. It’s about what happens when an ordinary working family falls into the gap between insurance companies, government assistance, and local resources.

I am a single mother raising my son on my own. I work full-time, recently earned my bachelor’s degree, and have always tried to solve my own problems. But this situation has become impossible to overcome alone. After the first flood, I spent what little savings I had trying to clean up and recover. Before I could even catch my breath, my home flooded a second time. I filed insurance claims after both floods. Both claims were denied.

As of July 21st, my home and yard have flooded for a third time.

I was told that because the flooding was considered an “act of God” and the water did not come from a covered source such as a burst pipe or failed water heater, there was no coverage available under my policy. I pay for homeowners insurance every month, yet when disaster struck, I am left completely on my own.

The flooding has created one problem after another. My basement needs to be professionally waterproofed, but I simply cannot afford it. Until I can raise the money, every significant rainstorm leaves me wondering if my home will flood again. The flooding also damaged my appliances such as my washer, dryer, water heater, and air conditioning system.

My electrical panel is rusted, and the blower motor that circulates cool air has failed. The estimate to repair the system alone is $3,011. For the past several days and many more to come, my son and I have been living in a house that reaches approximately 90 degrees. My son has become sick from the heat, experiencing dizziness and vomiting, and we’ve been relying on cold showers just to help him cool down. Our basement remains contaminated after the flooding.

Unfortunately, many organizations have been unable to help. Even my water heater warranty would not cover flood-related damage because it was considered flood damage resulting from an “act of God.”

I contacted FEMA hoping there might be assistance available. I learned that individual homeowners generally cannot receive FEMA disaster assistance unless there is a state-requested disaster declaration that is approved at the federal level m. As of July 21st Mayor Aftab finally decided to take action.

While the government took its time, nothing has occurred, there was no assistance available to my family and I still wait for relief. I’ve contacted the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) numerous times over the two years I’ve owned this home. Each time they inspect the property, I’m told there is nothing they can do and that they are not at fault.

Even after water has backed up through my basement drain, I have been given informational pamphlets but no solution. Meanwhile, both of my immediate neighbors have stormwater collection systems installed in their yards that were provided through MSD programs. My property does not have one. Instead, my yard has a significant low spot where water naturally collects. During heavy rain, my property becomes the collection point for runoff. Correcting the grading alone will require thousands of dollars in topsoil and new sod, with estimates ranging from $3,000 to $3,800. As long as the yard remains this way, water will continue to collect around my foundation and increase the risk of future flooding.

The financial impact has been devastating. Because I spent so much money responding to the first flood, I fell behind on other bills while trying to keep my home safe. Before the second flood even happened, I was already struggling to recover financially. I recently received a disconnection notice from Duke Energy because I simply couldn’t keep up while paying for flood-related expenses. Thankfully, I was able to submit the necessary paperwork to postpone the disconnection, giving my family a little more time to catch up.

I am still working to get back on my feet, but every solution seems to uncover another expensive problem. When I purchased my home, I never imagined I would experience flooding like this. I don’t blame my city, and I know many agencies have rules they must follow. But I do believe there is a larger conversation that needs to happen about homeowners who fall into this gap.

People who are insured but aren’t covered, who work full-time but don’t qualify for assistance, and who simply don’t have tens of thousands of dollars available after repeated disasters. I have contacted my insurance company, FEMA, MSD, my home warranty company, local organizations, and anyone else I could think of. Every answer has been some version of, “There’s nothing we can do.” I’m not asking for sympathy.

I’m asking for awareness. There are hardworking families who do everything they’re supposed to do and still find themselves one disaster away from losing everything. When disasters like this happen, there should be a better safety net for homeowners who have nowhere else to turn.

To help keep my family in our home and prevent future flooding while battling health concerns, I have started a GoFundMe to raise money for the necessary repairs, including waterproofing the basement, correcting the grading of the yard, and repairing the damage caused by these floods.

I continue to fight every day because giving up isn’t an option. This is my home. It’s where my son and I are building our lives, and I’ll keep doing everything I can to save it. As difficult as this experience has been, it’s reminded me of something even more important: when systems fail us, people don’t have to.

Insurance policies, warranties, and large organizations all have limitations, rules, and exclusions. Sometimes, even after doing everything right, you’re still told, “We can’t help you.” That’s why community matters. We may come from different backgrounds, hold different beliefs, or live different lives, but when hardship strikes, those differences become far less important than our shared humanity.

We all have the ability to lift someone up, whether it’s through our time, resources, encouragement, or simply choosing to care. If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all of this, it’s that our greatest safety net isn’t found in a corporation or a policy it’s found in one another.

My hope is that my story not only raises awareness about the challenges many homeowners face but also reminds us that compassion, generosity, and unity are what truly carry people through life’s hardest moments. Thank you for taking the time to hear my story.