#SurvivingHarvey - Sam's Survival
#DogsSurvivingHarvey
Sam's story made national headlines when he stayed behind to save all 6 of his pets! With your support, by donating and a SHARE of this GoFundMe page, we can keep this momentum and reach our new goal of 15,000 dollars. We want to care more for the entire family including his precious pups!
WATCH: Drone footage from Rockport, Texas, shows the destruction left behind by Hurricane Harvey
UPDATE: Aug 29th- Sam and his family have lost everything including his home, clothing, furniture, memories and so much more. Now, he and his family are in search of a place to simply rest their head.
With your support, we hope to reach our campaign goal and help them get back on their feet by the end of this week (08/31/17).
Sam holds two of his dogs as he checks on the damage to his home in the wake of Hurricane Harvey
Sam's family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support shown through your generous donations whatever the amount. Words cannot express the appreciation and gratitude we feel inside. We sincerely thank each and every one of you for your support!
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Visit the update section for more photos and information
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Original Story Below
On Thursday, Aug 24th, a mandatory evacuation was issued for Rockport TX. While the hurricane was at a category 1, Sam's wife Eliana and their 15-yr old son evacuated to safety. Sam stayed behind to look after the rest of his family, his six dogs, a huskie and five rat terriers. As the hurricane progressed into a category 4, and with no car of his own, Sam was unable to get a relative or friend to come and pick him up or to find a ride out.
When the roof tore off the living room and peeled up in his son's room, Sam escaped out the back of his house and began traveling through the nearby drainage ditch by light of only of his cellphone. Seeking refuge, he moved through swirling debris at 130 mph winds with zero visibility. He passed from vehicle shed, to a locked concrete bunker, then finally an abandoned vehicle for temporary shelter. It wasn't until he stumbled upon a concrete-block house, where he jumped in through the back window, that he found stable shelter to ride out the rest of hurricane Harvey.
Read more about Sam’s desperate effort to stay alive during Harvey- @washingtonpost
Sam's Hurricane Partner
Eliana and their son made it to safety but had made no contact with Sam until a Facebook patron sought out the couple after reading an article posted on a news broadcast in Brazil.
(posted by Globo.com )
HE IS ALIVE!
Through news articles we know that he bicycled three miles to the emergency management center in Rockport's center on Sunday, Aug 27th, where he was given emergency food rations and a cooking kit. Emergency management spokesman estimated Sunday it would be three to four weeks before essential services could be restored
As they have no insurance to help during this devastation, our heart is broken for him and his family. This money will help the family recover as the city recovers, and Rockport rebuilds from loss of power, running water and other essential services.
PLEASE, let's try to help people who have lost everything. You do not understand the devastation until you have lived it. I haven't lived it, but I can tell from an old friend's face, that there is nothing left in him.
God Bless.
#SurvivingHarvey
My name is Danielle and I am a childhood friend of Sam's family. All campaign funds will go directly to John Speights' bank account who is Sam's father and designated beneficiary. These funds will be used for housing and basic necessities needed by the family as they move forward and rebuild their home. Thank you!
