Scott Family Hurricane Disaster Recovery

Hello!

We are Tyler and Erika Scott, missionaries in Saint Petersburg, Florida. We have two young daughters and another baby girl coming any day! The due date was the same day as the storm! On Saturday (8/26) we were made known that a hurricane was coming our direction. Sadly, we live in a low lying area so our neighborhood is a flood zone area. The storm surge was predicted to get up to 7ft so we packed up our house in two days, lifting furniture onto tables and benches. Tyler used silicon to seal up four doors and garage door with duct tape, a tarp, and sandbags. Tyler's parents rented an airbnb in the middle of the peninsula where the grounds are higher for a few nights just so we had a place to stay during the storm.

After the storm (8/30), Tyler and his dad went back to look at our house. The water on our street was almost waist deep during the storm surge. It looks like the water force was very powerful and the garage door caved in bringing in all the water, knocking down barrels which were not waterproof, and destroying a lot of items. The water line in the house was up to a foot deep but by the time they got in, it was down to two inches. Right now there is a team using tools and industrial fans to get to water out and dry out the furniture so there is no mold on them. Unfortunately, the house is not livable anymore and work needs to be done to it to live in there again which will take months. Some friends have offered for us to stay with them during the unknowns while bringing a newborn back. It has been a stressful and emotional time as we won't be able to bring our baby back home to our homey home and everything is still unknown.

We have lost items such as a piano, our iKea dressers and nightstands, storage cabinets, buffet table, side tables, bookshelves, baby items, kids items, some clothes, a lot of food, keepsakes, etc. We are also needing help with temporary housing while we're displaced.

Please pray that we can navigate everything with a newborn on the way soon and the new adjustment as a family of five without a permanent home.

Through this “storm” we can feel God’s presence and peace strongly and know that He is working this all for our good, even though we can’t see it yet, we know He has something amazing up His sleeve! We have confidence that God will be glorified through this. We have been through a situation like this in the past less than two years ago and can testify of God’s faithfulness. We are blessed by so many people's generosity and love during this time. Thank you all for your prayers and love, it means so much to us!!!

(The last two pictures are from our last night in our home)