MEET BARBIE CARL, a single mom and flood survivor from Windham, NY. She is also an impressive amateur photographer! We are helping to sell her photos to raise money to assist her with living expenses. For more information on purchasing one of her photos or making a donation, click here. Please read this amazing story…in her own words.
I have often joked with people that I will write a book titled, “You Could Pay Me One Million Dollars to Stay Away From Your Town.” For the past 22 years, I have encountered over one dozen direct hit hurricanes and two tornadoes. Ironically, each storm occurred within the first year of any area I moved.
The first destruction was the result of a tornado blowing up my home in Mount Dora, Florida. The differences of air pressure from the outside environment to the inside of the home caused the roof, rafters, and ceiling fans to travel two blocks after the explosion. Although the home was deemed condemned, I only suffered one minor scratch on my hand.
Over the years, I endured several more natural disasters. Each time I was ‘lucky’ and, depending on the proximity and severity, sustained fairly minor damage to my homes. However, in 2005, along with my fifteen-month-old son, Jacob, we experienced Hurricane Katrina. My home and back cottage, along with all of my contents (four generations of family heirlooms, pictures, registered artist oil paintings, etc) were totally swallowed into the Gulf of Mexico from a 32 foot storm surge plunging onto my home. All that remained was a slab – not a drop of anything else was left of our life except our own lives. Soon after, I was offered a teaching position in Charlotte, NC. I accepted it, and started our life all over ‘again.’ Four years later, the economy, budget crunches, etc. caused me to be one of 800 teachers in Charlotte to become ‘gainfully’ unemployed. I decided to return home to New York.
Within the first year… to the DAY of officially having all of our belongings in Windham, NY, Tropical Storm Irene took away our home and many belongings. My son was so brave as we sat on the second floor looking out the window watching cars, trucks, propane tanks, household items, and portions of building structures passing down Route 23 like little toys. Jacob and I just returned from a trip to Niagara Falls. He noted to me that the flood was raging like the Niagara Falls. Actually, reported, that the current was as fierce as the falls. Regardless, it was a very traumatic and scary time during the 12 hours before being rescued – yet my son was my ‘Rock’. A brave little boy who kept me focused on what is important.
Currently we are still homeless and I am trying very hard to find a job to support a rental for my son and I. We have lived at various homes of people who either are lifelong friends or have now become life-long friends from them opening their homes and hearts to us. Jacob and I have weathered many storms…… but we refuse to be weathered!
