Single Mom & 2 Sons lost everything in Hurricane
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August of 2022 my children (10/14) and I moved halfway across the country to be closer to family, after their dad walked out on us. After getting a job and getting the kids adjusted to our new “normal”, we rented a small apartment near to my parents, which was on the water, providing the boys with opportunities to go fishing regularly or kayaking right in their “backyard”, along with a peaceful little dock to sit and relax after a long week at work, school, etc.
Fast forward to August 2023, we were nearing the end of our lease at the end of November and looking for other housing, namely because of a nightmare landlord that made this apartment less than an ideal place to continue living in.
We had been tracking TS Idalia, along with my parents, and expected some inclement weather, and our plan was to hunker down with them, as they were 6 miles away and much further from the water. Very suddenly (as these things happen) the TS became a hurricane, rapidly gaining speed with a projected path right towards our area. The swells were projected to be up to 12 feet in some areas and both the kids and I and my parents were under mandatory evacuation status. I stayed home from work that day, packed as much clothes, important documents, pets, non-perishables into my little car, moved stuff off the porch, put things on beds, unplugged electronics, etc. and drove to a hotel a ways out of town.
Thursday I returned to work, kids in tow, knowing the police weren’t allowing people down my road. To say I was stressed was an understatement. Finally a friend was able to make it to my place. Sitting at my desk, I got a brief video and “I’m so sorry.” I left work shortly after and made my way to access the damage.
It was destroyed. I looked around in disbelief, not knowing where to begin. Eventually, my landlord showed up and actually chuckled at one point, saying “it usually doesn’t flood this bad!”
As I was cleaning out, my landlord text me that he needed the house cleaned out by the next day so he could put box fans in to dry it out. Mind you, we had 4 feet of storm water and sewage from the septic tank flood the entire place. In the end, my church and an amazing organization called Operation Blessing came over that day and the next to help me clear out all of our belongings. And we put them on the curb and eventually, a dumpster. We are fortunate enough to have temporary shelter at my mom’s but the clock is ticking because they are moving AND live in a 55+ community, where despite our dire situation, we have already been told we are on borrowed time. See our story, as told by Operation Blessing:
https://youtu.be/GEAoD1lU5Dk?si=nD5qU3DIRy7AYr05
https://youtu.be/RpX9_YR4Tbg?si=Spzg9UJX6kdtRDJN
August of 2022 my children (10/14) and I moved halfway across the country to be closer to family, after their dad walked out on us. After getting a job and getting the kids adjusted to our new “normal”, we rented a small apartment near to my parents, which was on the water, providing the boys with opportunities to go fishing regularly or kayaking right in their “backyard”, along with a peaceful little dock to sit and relax after a long week at work, school, etc.
Fast forward to August 2023, we were nearing the end of our lease at the end of November and looking for other housing, namely because of a nightmare landlord that made this apartment less than an ideal place to continue living in.
We had been tracking TS Idalia, along with my parents, and expected some inclement weather, and our plan was to hunker down with them, as they were 6 miles away and much further from the water. Very suddenly (as these things happen) the TS became a hurricane, rapidly gaining speed with a projected path right towards our area. The swells were projected to be up to 12 feet in some areas and both the kids and I and my parents were under mandatory evacuation status. I stayed home from work that day, packed as much clothes, important documents, pets, non-perishables into my little car, moved stuff off the porch, put things on beds, unplugged electronics, etc. and drove to a hotel a ways out of town.
Thursday I returned to work, kids in tow, knowing the police weren’t allowing people down my road. To say I was stressed was an understatement. Finally a friend was able to make it to my place. Sitting at my desk, I got a brief video and “I’m so sorry.” I left work shortly after and made my way to access the damage.
It was destroyed. I looked around in disbelief, not knowing where to begin. Eventually, my landlord showed up and actually chuckled at one point, saying “it usually doesn’t flood this bad!”
As I was cleaning out, my landlord text me that he needed the house cleaned out by the next day so he could put box fans in to dry it out. Mind you, we had 4 feet of storm water and sewage from the septic tank flood the entire place. In the end, my church and an amazing organization called Operation Blessing came over that day and the next to help me clear out all of our belongings. And we put them on the curb and eventually, a dumpster. We are fortunate enough to have temporary shelter at my mom’s but the clock is ticking because they are moving AND live in a 55+ community, where despite our dire situation, we have already been told we are on borrowed time. See our story, as told by Operation Blessing:
https://youtu.be/GEAoD1lU5Dk?si=nD5qU3DIRy7AYr05
https://youtu.be/RpX9_YR4Tbg?si=Spzg9UJX6kdtRDJN
Organizer
Shannon Mondello
Organizer
Crystal River, FL