Heidi

Here is one real life account of the flood…

Well, it all started on Wednesday afternoon. I was at work and had the radio on listening to what was going on around us.  With all the road closures, and our parking lot beginning to flood, we put a phone call out to the owner requesting to close the store early. We were finally able to close at 3pm. I went to our church were my mom works to make sure she was ok. We decided to take one car home, leaving mine in the church parking lot (not ever crossing my mind that the church would flood). Without knowing what really was happening with all the road closures and not knowing if we could make it home, we wanted to be in the same car together in case anything happened. 

Thanking the Lord that we made it home safe, with just a few detours we were able to park our car across from my grandparents home. As we started to walk home, I saw my grandpa coming over the rushing waters, in his John Deere Gator. Grandpa to the rescue! Getting home and seeing the driveway flooded out, and very little water in the basement we are truly blessed to be safe and have minimal damage. On Thursday morning I had heard that birds unlimited had some flooding and our church is right across the street.  I texted pastor to see if he could see any water in the church and if any water around my car. He texted me back saying, “Heidi I am sorry to say but there is water up to the windows on your car…about 4 feet.”

My heart just sank. We got ready and went down to the church to see the water levels and at 10:30 am Thursday it was up past the trunk. Four feet up around the Church building as well. At this point we were standing in as close as we could get, and this was about 175 yards from the church. We walked around town looking at some other areas. It was about 6:30pm that night when we went back to take another look and the water had risen completely submerging my car - about 6 feet of water. 

Feeling helpless and not being able to do anything we headed home. Friday morning we went back to the church finding that it was now 10 feet deep and my car was no where to be found. The water at this point was 300 yards from the church. My heart breaks for all the business around us. To name a few that are completely under water- The entire Valley Plaza  (Unicorn Electronics, Birds Unlimited, Knucklehead Embroidery, Pella windows, Robson Electric),  Mom's House (non-profit to single mom's and dad's with children continuing their education), Terminz, Childtime, New dentist office, Lourdes clinic, Five Star Auto, Goodrich, Ballet Studio, Karate Studio, Performance Sound, Cheshire Cat, and the Psychology Building. We meet a women named Anna who was the owner of a massage therapy office on the top floor of the Psychology building, who has lost everything. And so many more around us have lost so much. Despite all of this devastation, I believe God is going to bring so many blessings. As a Church family we are going to be able to serve our community and come together. I may have only lost my car…compared to some people I am lucky, but still very sad.  And my job…not sure how long I’ll be without a job with all the flooding at the Town Square Mall, but just praising God in the midst of all this sadness.

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This story is from my cousin Heidi.  And her story is just one of many, many more.  And like she says in her own words…so many people have lost everything.  EVERYTHING.  Please pray for us.  If you would like to help, place an order through this Mary Kay consultant and she will give us 25% towards helping people.  Just make sure you mention “NY” in the note section when placing your order.