Support Dan and Rachel's Flood Recovery After Tropical Storm

Hello, friends, family, and compassionate strangers,

I’m a longtime music teacher and my partner, Rachel, is a local theater professor. We, along with our cat, Scruffles, recently survived a flash flood that destroyed the first floor of our home and may have irreparably damaged our cars. We’re grateful that all three of us are safe, but we are overwhelmed, and grappling with how to move forward.

On Sunday, July 6, 2025, Tropical Storm Chantal unleashed an unimaginable amount of rainfall over Chapel Hill, NC and the surrounding areas. Though heavy rain was forecasted, no warning could have prepared us, or our neighbors, for what became a 1000-year flood event.

The parking lot outside our home began to fill with water. Before we could move our cars, the water was rushing into both our front and back doors. As the water rose, we grabbed our terrified cat, and tried to exit the home and get to higher ground. The pressure of the water was too great; we couldn’t open the doors and realized we were trapped inside. The only way out was a back window. When we opened it, we saw waist-deep water outside. I’m not a swimmer, but with sheer adrenaline, we pushed through the rising water to reach higher ground.

We are deeply grateful that we found a neighbor on the far side of our building who took us in for the rest of the night. By the end, their door was only 24” away from the flood waters. That night, we sat together in disbelief, soaked, frantically texting or calling distant family members, waiting for the waters to recede.

What We’ve Lost

Our home is no longer livable. The entire first floor was destroyed, and many of our upstairs belongings have been exposed to prolonged heat and humidity due to a poorly functioning A/C, putting them at risk for mold or permanent damage.

Our renter’s insurance informed us the day after the flood that they won’t cover any of the damage, since the flooding is considered an “Act of Nature.”

Both of our vehicles were caught in the floodwaters. They’re currently being assessed. If they are repairable, thankfully insurance may cover most of the damage, minus our deductibles ($500 and $250)—still a big loss for us, but one we could just barely manage.

However, if either vehicle is declared a total loss (especially if it's both), because of the remaining loan balances on both vehicles, we may receive little to no payout after the loans are settled, leaving us with no reliable transportation to get to work. That outcome would be financially devastating for us. Our needs may very much grow, depending upon what each shop reports back to us regarding our cars.

Why We’re Asking for Help

We’re a working-class couple, already living paycheck to paycheck. I suffer from a chronic illness that has made this daily work even more difficult, especially with the recent heatwaves. Now, we’re trying to navigate:

-Replacing the majority of furnishings and belongings on our first floor

-Finding and securing an affordable new rental and paying to move the salvageable belongings we were able to recover

-Transportation uncertainty

-Emergency and ongoing costs that are piling up faster than we can manage

We’re emotionally and physically drained. We’re doing everything we can to stay afloat—researching every agency, leaning on family, working busy jobs while trying to rebuild our lives. We’re asking for help.

How You Can Help

Any donation—no matter how small—would make a real difference for us. Every dollar will go toward basic needs, transportation, relocation costs, daily food (including cat food) and recovery. If you're not able to donate, please consider sharing our story with your network. That alone helps more than you know.

We are so grateful for your time, your compassion, and your support during this incredibly difficult moment. Knowing we’re not alone gives us the strength to keep moving forward.

With love and gratitude,

Dan and Rachel

(and Scruffles)