We are Sara and Matt from the UK, in the process of settling in the Ferreira do Zêzere area of Portugal. The area was devastated by Storm Kristin on January 28th with 125+ mph winds and torrential rain - rating it as a 'Category 2' force hurricane. Power lines are not just down, electricity towers are down like dominoes, with trees snapped off at the base tangled up in the cables. Roofs have been damaged or blown off completely and many people have been left without food, water, power, shelter or communication signals. Shops are either closed or rationing what is available.

It will likely take months to repair the infrastructure, and even longer for people to rebuild their lives and livelihoods. There is also another storm forecast for Sunday 1st February, which is likely to cause further devastation.

Ferreira do Zêzere is a poor, farming community in Central Portugal. Many of the inhabitants are elderly and their homes are rustic. But the community spirit is strong! We have been struck by the generosity of many of our neighbours since we arrived and we are desperate to help them. We have also lost many of our own trees, as well our beautiful yurt home (and its contents), the construction of which was only completed in late October 2025. But we have the skills to rebuild.

Matt is a skilled carpenter, in the process of moving his whole life and business to Portugal. The money being raised by this fundraiser is for the worst hit families and individuals, providing them with food and temporary accommodation, as well as the materials and labour needed to pay for, or subsidise, the emergency help and extensive repairs needed. If you would like any of your donation to go towards our own repairs and replacement home, then please specify that in a message along with your donation - as we are starting again too. Everything else will go into the community that has made us feel so at home.

Please be as generous as you can be. We realise finances are tight for many at the moment and every penny is so gratefully received. If you are unable to help financially, please help in another way, by sharing this link with others. Thank you!

If you would like to stay informed of how the money is being allocated and see video footage of the difference it makes, please follow 'The Grizzly Chippie' on YouTube https://youtube.com/@grizzlychippie?si=MsRYcLOG9LmUVB5P where the support and repairs we've been able to provide will be documented, along with full disclosure of the funds received and how they've been allocated and spent.

Thank you so much!

Sara and Matt xx

Images: as communications and power are down, footage from the precise area we are trying to help is scant at the moment. The main image used was taken from The Portugal Post and the Copyright belongs to 'The Portugal Post'. The others are from our own land, with the final picture showing what it looked like before he storm.