Brunson Family housing help
Donation protected
The explosion affected our house so much its currently unliveable. I'm a single mom of three children my youngest being only 3. Currently staying with friends but currently my kids and I are seperated with only my youngest with me. Older teens are at seperate friends houses to be closer to their schools. I'm looking for any ministry or assistance program that will help with gas and temporary housing until my house can be fixed. The home isn't mine and I have no insurance to help with it and no family close by to help take us in.
Below is my experience living through the explosion and immediate aftermath. Praise be to God none of us were harmed and only material things lost.
It's been a really crazy few days. Friday morning around 4:30am I woke up to a huge Sonic sound that was building then shortly after there was a huge boom. I thought maybe I'd been hit by lightning but then my house started shaking intensely side to side and up and down glass shattering and it seemed to shake forever. I thought earthquake. When it finally stopped I went to look out my window to see if there was a storm or anything but found my windows shattered and no rain but my neighbors gathering in the street. Jack was awake and scared so I went to get Ari to watch him so he wouldn't touch any broken glass. I opened her door to find her ceiling caving in alarmingly only held up by her lighting wires. Thankfully she has a bunk bed and sleeps on the bottom bunk. I asked her to watch jack and she's came out carefully and helped. Dylan's room was fine and he came out too. I went to my front door to go outside to find it broken and stuck open but not able to open or close. The frame bent and splintered and my front window by my door shattered both inside and out. I get out through left side of my garage and join my neighbors in the street. I hear jack screaming for me from my house while I do. The neighbors are confused then one points to the sky to the left to a huge plume of black black smoke and says I think something exploded over there. Everyone near me has damage to their houses in varying stages. I run back inside and first I begin to clean up glass in my room thinking to protect Jack. Then I start to remove glass from the stairs and by the front door. Ari says look at the couch and I realize theres more shattered windows and couch is covered completely in glass. I look at the living room and realize every toy is exposed to glass and the shatter pattern is so intense it's further than I've ever seen. I decided theres no way I can fix all of this now and need to get the kids to safety and start packing go bags. Then I hear talking out my window and see ambulances, fire trucks and fireman. I say hello and fireman directly below my window says they are going door to door checking to see if anyone is injured and advising everyone to evacuate as clouds could have toxins. I go to load the first thing into the car and the air is thicker and smells bad like a bonfire of plastic wood and something I can't describe. A neighbor points to my garage where a support beam is cracked and right side of my garage door blown out and wall cracked. I run back in the house and urge the kids to grab anything they think is vital and get into the car. Finally we pull out but the car windows are fogged and I can barely see but dont want more of that air in the car. Police are everywhere and saying not to exit regular way and redirects everyone. Felt like an eternity waiting for the line to move faster and get away. Finally we hit an opening I made a right and made it out and just drove. Realizing within hours I've lost my home for now but grateful to God we're all alive and Okay. Since then friends have sheltered me and my children and I'm trying to get some kind of handle on what next. All Friday I was in shock and ever since I hear that Sonic sound and feel the shaking. Turns out my house is only like three blocks from the blast from the factory explosion, but it was so strong it was heard all the way out in Pasadena on one side and Willowbrook on the other. Which is about an hour from me in either direction!!!! I've been worried how I'm going to manage next but I know no matter what God's got this. I appreciate everyone who's helped and opened their homes to us and all the prayers and offers to help. As for help Besides home repairs, offers to stay and childcare for Jack so I can clean everything touched by glass I'm not sure what to even ask for. I am weak but my God is strong. Just please pray for wisdom strength and peace for all of us affected.
Organizer
Susie Brunson
Organizer
Houston, TX