Help Make The De Vries Family Home Safe After Ida

Hi Friends and Family. We are asking for your support of my brother and family, Jonathan and Katie De Vries and their two children. They have lost nearly all their possessions when their home was heavily damaged as Hurricane Ida flooded their Connecticut neighborhood.

On September 1, 2021 they were all home preparing for the coming school year when torrential rains came. It rained more than 7.5 inches in just a few hours. Water inundated their neighborhood, broke through their exterior steel door with such force it bent it in half rapidly filling their lower level and main floor in a matter of few minutes. They were able to gather a few items before the water consumed the bathroom, living room, dining room, kitchen and family room. They were able to seek shelter on their upper floor.

They are both teachers in an elementary and a high school in the area and are struggling to know how to proceed. Their neighborhood including their home was built in 1960s and has never been in a flood plain (FEMA Flood Zone X) and they do not have flood insurance. The community was heavily impacted but federal funding/disaster relief has not been granted at this point to Norwalk in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

After staying in a hotel, they have moved into temporary housing for the time being. They are so grateful for the help from friends and co-workers to remove and throw out their affected personal items but are devastated knowing how to get back into their home. They have no means to make their house livable.

These funds are needed to assist with completing demolition and bringing their home back to a state where it can be safely occupied including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, appliances, etc. They are extremely grateful for any offers of support which will go directly to them.