Support Hope Henderson's Recovery from Flood Disaster

My dear friend Hope Henderson is in need of some financial help following the disaster of Hurricane Helene. We survived a flood in the house she owned and had to be rescued by the fire department in a raft. The picture is of our neighbors immediately after our rescue. Due to the water being chest high and trying to rescue ourselves and three dogs, I don't have pictures of our situation.

Here is the story of what happened:

Friday morning, I saw water rushing into my friend Hope's garage at 6:30 am and started packing important items and woke her up. By 8:30, we had made the first 911 call for help as water was now several feet high in the garage. I know 911 was inundated with calls, but the response I got was that "we are not rescuing people at this time. Do your best," and I was hung up on.

By 9, we had water rushing into the house and filling it up quickly. We moved to the highest point, which was her bed with our three dogs—one who is 16 and has trouble walking. We called 911 again with little response. Ten minutes later, I called again as water was halfway up the wall and nearly to the top of the bed. I looked out the window, and two rivers of water were filling the already flooded backyard up to the windows. I finally got a 911 operator who helped and took our address and information. Several minutes went by, and the water was nearly breaching the windows—then the toilet started making horrible noises, and I realized we were now getting raw sewage flooding in, adding to the rapidly rising waters.

Thank God, within 10 minutes, six firemen and a raft showed up, and we were able to get out. Water was up to my chest as I carried the 60-pound, 16-year-old dog to the raft. I went back for the other dog and Luna when the fireman came in and helped.

I fear what would have been had they not shown up when they did. They also rescued five other neighbors out of their homes. Sleep hasn't happened much yet, and the constant replaying of being in that situation feels like a horror movie I can't turn off. And yet—we were lucky. So many weren't. I still have people I can't reach yet, and I am constantly praying they are alive.

My friend lost everything. She has no flood insurance. (I know, but many don't... the creek behind her house was a tiny stream for the 25 years she has lived there, and it has never flooded. Beaver Lake is one block from her house, and it spilled over into a river, ran downstream through all the neighbors' yards, and ended up in our backyard. Her house is the lowest point on the street.) The water ended up rising over 5 feet and was continuing to rise quickly when we got out.

The important thing and blessing is that we all are alive. She saved nothing but the clothes on her back.

We were shuttled to the civic center, and then I was able to find us a hotel to sit in the lobby for several hours until we got a hotel room for three days. I went and stayed with former neighbors for two days and got Hope and her two dogs settled in with a friend of hers. Her older dog was not doing well and needed a stable place to stay for now, as cleanup has begun.

Hope is literally hoping that FEMA will help as she didn't have flood insurance. This was unexpected, and due to the heavy rainfall our area experienced, there was no way to prepare or have time to do anything to evacuate. By the time the house flooded, the water was over 5 feet high in her front yard.

If you have any way to help contribute, she would greatly appreciate it. I would greatly appreciate it. She is a very generous person and would give anyone the shirt off her back. Now, she literally needs shirts to put on her back, money to feed her dogs, and to try and rebuild what she can.

Anything helps and is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your consideration.