Topics Related to Homeowner Recovery Program
Clarkton, NC – Vanessa Williams had lived in her home for nearly 30 years before Hurricane Matthew tore a hole in her roof. Other assistance programs told her to put a tarp over the hole and move on, but Williams knew there had to be a better way forward.She was still searching for an affordable permanent solution when Hurricane Florence hit and blew rainwater underneath her front door. Her neighborhood “looked like a river,” she says.
Windsor, NC – When Vernestine Melton heard Hurricane Matthew was on its way, she never expected her single-family home to flood. “Our area isn’t a declared flood zone,” she says. But that didn’t stop rushing storm water from leaking inside. “We got 18 inches in the laundry room, and it saturated our carpets throughout the house.” After the storm had passed, her floors started sinking. So Melton sought financial assistance to fix the damage.
Kinston, NC – When Hurricane Matthew ripped through the city of Kinston, it didn’t just cause damage, it also destroyed decades of memories.“This is the only home I’ve ever known,” Antionette Croom said, pointing to her street filled with houses and a tiny white church. “Everyone knows me. I feel safe here.”Croom and her nine siblings grew up in this small neighborhood. Her father originally built her home as a rental property but gave it to her so she could raise her two children.
Orrum, NC – When Hurricane Matthew hit, Teresa Floyd and her family had to flee the house they had lived in for more than 20 years. They returned to find their beloved home destroyed, with broken windows, roof damage and floors ruined from leaks. “We just had to live with it,” Teresa says. “We had been rejected from an assistance program, so we were hoping we could fix it all ourselves.”
Greenville, NC – Aziengbe Idehenre’s number one priority has always been his family. After the hurricane passed over his house, he was grateful that his wife and children were safe. He was then able to focus on a new priority: dealing with the damage that the storm left behind.
Clarkton – After Hurricanes Matthew and Florence damaged Nicole Roger’s home, she felt hopeless and overwhelmed.“There was water damage everywhere,” Nicole recalled. “Mold started growing. It smelled so bad it was just awful.”Nicole needed to repair her home, but she was also planning to go to school to become a registered nurse.“Being a nurse will let me help people and care for my family,” Nicole said. “I didn’t know how I was going to go to school and fix my home.”
Hope Mills, NC – Hurricane Matthew did not destroy Janice Tallman’s house, which was still standing after the storm had passed, but damage from a fallen tree, harsh winds and heavy rain was substantial. Her roof, walls, windows, insulation and more needed significant repairs. Tallman says, “I had no idea how I was going to pay to save my home.”
Maxton, NC – Some experiences can be too traumatic to remember in detail. For Rena Locklear, Hurricane Matthew was one of them. Her memories of the storm itself are blurry, but she remembers clearly the destruction left behind. “The water damage was the worst. It affected the whole house, from underneath to the roof,” she says. “After the storm, mold and mildew began growing in the walls.” Yet Locklear remained in her home, as she had nowhere else to live.
Fayetteville, NC – Edith Hines first heard about ReBuild NC on the radio after Hurricane Matthew damaged her house, leaving a broken HVAC, rotting wood and soggy insulation.Then Hurricane Florence passed through, causing more damage. She didn’t have enough money to make substantial repairs, so Hines lived without air conditioning or heat — until ReBuild NC stepped in.
Lumberton, NC – When Hurricane Matthew ripped through Lumberton, Morris Love didn’t just lose his home, he lost part of his family.“I’m a foster parent,” Morris explained. “I had two little boys with me when the storm hit.”He said they were stuck in their home, and all they were able to do was watch as the weather went from bad to worse.“By the grace of God, a helicopter flew over,” Morris recounted.