Amy Dillon - Hurricane Matthew

Hi everyone, my name is Adda May Dillon, but most of my friends know me as “Amy.” I am a 12 year Marine Corps veteran and employed as a firearms instructor residing in South Carolina. Many people know me from my work as an Instructor, advocate, competitive shooter, and writer involved with several organizations in efforts to positively influence legislation in support of upholding the 2nd Amendment. 

Recently, my town of Bluffton, South Carolina was directly impacted by Hurricane Matthew. The county was hit bad and the damage was devastating.

My neighborhood was one of the hardest hit. Homes in my neighborhood, including mine, were flooded.

The damage is extensive--entire house flooded, roof leak, all furniture destroyed, and personal items ruined. Because my house did not sit in an actual flood zone, I did not have flood insurance. Since returning to my home, I have been going through the process of finding anything that can be salvaged. This week I began to realize some of the things that I will need: carpet/flooring, carpentry and drywall/insulation to replace existing that got wet, replacement doors, cabinets, A/C unit, and all furniture (bedroom, living room, office, dining, and kitchen). Not being a builder or expert in this field, I realize there may be so much more. Right now, I cannot afford to hire contractors.

Although FEMA declared South Carolina a disaster area, I have learned that relief funds are not available for individual assistance.

In 36 years, this is the first time I have ever been through a natural disaster that has affected me personally. I never realized how extensive the damage could be and I am experiencing so many emotional ups and downs in realizing what this specifically will mean for me over the next several months. It will definitely be a healing process and I now look at everyone who has been through something similar with so much empathy.

At the urging of several friends, I have decided to start this Go Fund Me campaign. For those that have been wanting to help, this will be a way to, and I will be extremely grateful for it. I am already blown away by the generosity of friends. And just having so many people reach out to me to offer encouragement has moved me to tears.

Funds I receive from this campaign will go toward materials I need to repair and rebuild my home: bleach, mold killer, new flooring/carpet, cutting out and replacing walls and baseboards, replacing all doors inside the home, fans/dehumidifiers to dry out inside of home, paint, replacing bottom kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, kitchen appliances that were ruined (refrigerator/oven/dishwasher), and all furniture inside the home (bed, dresser, nightstands, office desk, bookcases, couches, coffee table, end tables, dining room table, chairs, etc.), as well as temporary lodging and storage of personal items, as I will not be able to occupy my home while it is being repaired.

As I write this, I have already packed up salvageable items to stay somewhere for a few months. My house was deemed "restricted use" by the Town of Bluffton due to the flood damage. So I can come back to clean but restricted use means I can't live in my home.

I will be continuing to document the hurricane damage/cleanup here as well as on my Facebook page (Adda May Dillon). I'm hoping to share my experience so you can see how something like this can truly affect you--especially in ensuring you have plans for preparedness and personal safety, etc.

THANK YOU again for all your kindness and support. YOU have been a guiding light in the middle of this storm.