Support Chad's Family in Overcoming Disaster

Hi. We are the Kingsburys in Kentucky who are posting this for a friend of ours in Texas. We know people are still reeling from the storm destruction of Milton and Helene but Chad’s plight has been ongoing for six months with no resolution reached and all appeals exhausted.

Chad is a disabled Army veteran who lives in a small home in Texas with his wife. Chad repairs old odd cars for a large part of his income. His wife takes care of him and their home. In April 2024, Texas was hit by an unprecedented amount of rain that brought 42 inches in just under three weeks. As a result, his house is listing like the Titanic due to a massive washout/sinkhole that formed under the foundation. Windows have cracked, doors no longer close, the brickwork is split on every wall, pipes have burst, the ventilation eaves have popped, and the floor has a severe slant. Next to this, the personal effects they’ve lost seems minor.

Since April, Chad and his wife have been living in an off-level house that could snap in two at any moment; watching from within as it deteriorates around them. Worse, too, is that now, every time it rains, their garage floods again and their house sinks further; the water submerges their porch and borders on getting into the house. They sit and pray that it doesn't. With each rain, there is more dirt and gravel to shovel from the property and literal tons of washout.

He has filed multiple claims with USAA; one for his damaged tools and workspace, one for the damage to the home’s foundation. Both were denied. He cannot refinance to save the house; an appraisal to show positive equity to current market value is required and not possible with the extensive damage. For the same reason, they cannot get a second mortgage.

FEMA has declared their house an unlivable disaster area, yet nobody will provide the aid needed to fix it. There was over $26,000 in damage to the foundation alone as of July, in addition to all that was lost to water damage. By October 15, when the 90 days FEMA had to consider their appeal passed, it was up to $35K; the hole expanded with subsequent rains from 400 gallons of fill being required to 600.

Despite Chad’s earlier complaints, there has been a complete lack of effort to resolve these basic issues, while his home and livelihood literally sink into the mire.

At this point, they have given up on the house and can only hope to come up with $15,000 to cover debts incurred while trying to save their house as well as to pay for moving expenses and supplies. They will be forced into bankruptcy after the house, or what's left of it, is foreclosed upon. They have exhausted every option that they can find and, now, are hoping to put this disastrous chapter of their life behind them.