Flooded Laughons, again

We had finally finished the repairs from the Memorial Day flood that devastated our home.

(Memorial Day Flood)

We had replaced the lost furniture and had started to accept the loss of all our precious irreplaceable things.




We had started making new memories - with our neighbors, friends, and strangers that helped us rebuild our home and reclaim our lives.



We had finally been able to breathe again. But, it seems those few weeks were just the calm before the second storm.

What we thought would be the single worst situation we have faced as a family happened again October 11th. Not six months from the first flood, it seems lightning has struck our home twice. We do not live on a river or other large body of water; our home has been destroyed by the small creek that our kids have grown up playing in. Until this year, the biggest mess this creek has caused us was when one of our dogs escaped to it and came home soaking. It was unprecedented for the water to rise anywhere near the house since we moved in a decade ago, despite heavy rains and storms; and in the decades before, water only got into the basement during a severe storm. We had no reason to expect our little creek would destroy our home - twice.

(Eerily similar image from October Flood)

With over $89,000 in structural damage, no insurance to cover contents, loss of work, and costs from finding alternative accomodation for myself, husband, two sons, and our two dogs, the first flood has taken its toll on us financially, physically, and emotionally. We have been so grateful for the financial donations and support we have recieved since May. We hate to have to ask for help again, but we are so grateful that we can, because of you - the friends we know so dearly and the dear people we have never met who have helped us through this crisis.

Yet, this disaster strikes us at an even worse situation financially: our savings have been depleted by costs of the first flood; our insurance claim is nearly maxed out; and the water rose higher this time - reaching our second floor, in addition to flooding the newly repaired basement to the ceiling and destroying the new floors, walls, doors, and contents of the first floor which we had moved to the second in preparation for the storm - just in case our worst fears became our reality. 

We are meeting with the flood adjuster and awaiting assessment from FEMA - our beautiful home of 10 years may have to be demolished entirely. The home we have built memories in: chatting with our loved ones in the kitchen, having the downstairs taken over by teens, celebrating high school and college graduations, and spending hours chasing our grandson around and around. We lost Keith's mom on July 21st, when we had just gotten power back and had begun to see the light. This year has put our family through so much. It hurts. It's not fair. We are exhausted.

We know we can never live there again. We have to start over. Anything you can contribute to helping us would be greatly appreciated. Please donate if you can and share widely.

Yours most gratefully,