Wimberly flood response is aided by volunteers, Response Team of America and Ram Brand
WIMBERLY, Texas, June 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- "When a house is opened the first time after a flood, it's the smell that hits you," says Linda Water Nelson, editor of INsideOut: Cars & Trucks. Nelson, who is also the Sport Vehicle Editor of Texas Fish & Game magazine and GAFF magazine, worked with First Response Team of America and RAM brand in the cleanup of a severely-damaged home after the recent flooding of the Blanco River.
There is simply no way to describe the combination of earthiness, sewage and debris that has seeped through the seams and pores after a 40-foot wall of water has assaulted a house, she explains.
Fran Barrington's home is across the river from the house that washed away, taking nine lives with it. Fran was lucky enough to have caught the attention of Kevin Frazier, a Texas Parks & Wildlife game warden who was checking water levels in his Zodiac boat and saw Fran in an upstairs window. By then, the water had reached the ceiling of Fran's first floor. A double-lung transplant recipient, Barrington didn't realize that her greatest trials lay ahead.
On the day after the flood receded, Tad Agogly, the founder of First Response Team of America was driving by and saw the homeowner surveying the damage. He pledged to help her even before seeing the inside of the house.
First Response Team of America is a non-profit that brings disaster relief to areas hit by crisis. They have an affiliation with The Weather Channel that gives them notice of potential trouble spots and are featured in the network's Responding by Storm series. Supported entirely by donations, they are aided by FCA's RAM Truck brand with both money and vehicles. Also involved in this cleanup was Ram Nation, a loosely-organized group of area Ram truck owners. San Marcos Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram acted as the focal point of the cleanup providing trucks and volunteers.
Within an hour of arriving, the cleanup squad received assignments, wheelbarrows, shovels, brooms, gloves and respiration masks.
It was particularly meaningful that two senior RAM managers came from Detroit, worked amazingly hard and got their hands dirty along with the rest of us, Nelson notes. "We salvaged some damaged family photos, some of Fran's collectible giraffes and other stuff, but most of the belongings were a total loss…loaded into truck beds and hauled away. Saddest of all, were the many ruined and mud-soaked books that acted as my stepping stones throughout the home's interior, Nelson says.
"The homeowner thought she was fully insured, not realizing that flood insurance must be specifically purchased through FEMA. The assistance that RAM, the volunteers and First Response Team provided would have cost her about $40,000. Every homeowner needs to know if they are eligible for flood coverage and buy it before it is too late," Nelson adds.
Note to editors: Still images are available by request. Please contact Linda Water Nelson, 901-326-7887, [email protected]
SOURCE INsideOut: Cars & Trucks
Share this article