Rhiannon and Jesse Barsness Flood Recovery
Donation protected
This GoFund Me was originally created courtesy of Natalie Barsness and has since been updated by Rhiannon Barsness to raise money for expenses after the loss of our home and belongings due to flood.
Northern Washington has had high amounts of rain which lead to severe, deep flooding. Sunday November 14th we had to leave our home and were able to stay at a neighbors with our two small children (3yr Madison and 1yr Jesse Jr.). We evacuated from that location at first light this morning. Shortly after, our neighbor we had been staying with had to evacuate from his home as well, via boat.
All four of us are currently safe, however our home has suffered severe damage. Jesse purchased this home for our family using his VA home loan. And although our house wasn't perfect, it was where we called home and it was ours. This flood has completely destroyed our home and all of our belongings inside. On Sunday evening at approximately 11:30pm water started entering our home. We moved large electronics to higher areas (counters, tables, desks) grabbed two small bags of clothes, a few small handheld electronics that we were able to gather in the approximately 15-20 minutes we had. Unfortunately trying to pack while each of us were also each carrying around a child didn't lend time/ability to gather or prep as much as we would've hoped. Some of our efforts were in vain anyways due to the extreme heights that the water reached regardless. Ultimately the waterline reached approximately 3.5-4ft throughout our home. After getting the kids and myself safely to our neighbors, Jesse returned to our home wading through nearly hip height water to gather another round of clothes for us. He moved more appliances to tabletops and counters. Fortunately he decided to move our vehicle as close to the road and away from our house as possible. This is ultimately what allowed us to get out safely the following morning. Jesse carried each of our children and our few belongings out to our vehicle while wading through waist/chest deep water that was freezing cold and with an extremely strong current. As a parent, having to make that choice of what was ultimately going to be the safest for our family was terrifying to say the least.
We went back to our home on Tuesday the 16th to assess the damage. Although we were expecting it to be bad, it was honestly even worse than we expected. Our house isn't necessarily out of the woods yet as there is still water surrounding (but not in) our home as of Tuesday morning, but weather is calling for even more rainfall again this through this coming week. The pictures don't really do justice of the damage. The waterline that you can see throughout the home that met/exceeds the bottom of our windows. The wood floors are warped and lifting in areas, carpets are like waterbeds, walls are warping and paint is bubbling. Large furniture like our couch, king bed, chest of drawers, etc was moved from one side of the room to the other, or even flipped and broken apart in some cases. Our fridge was laying flat on the floor, our deep freezer in our well house turned on its side. Clothing items, kitchen items, etc are displaced all throughout the home. Not to mention the layer of mud/river silt, leaves and other debris that is coating everything.
We went back to our home on Tuesday the 16th to assess the damage. Although we were expecting it to be bad, it was honestly even worse than we expected. Our house isn't necessarily out of the woods yet as there is still water surrounding (but not in) our home as of Tuesday morning, but weather is calling for even more rainfall again this through this coming week. The pictures don't really do justice of the damage. The waterline that you can see throughout the home that met/exceeds the bottom of our windows. The wood floors are warped and lifting in areas, carpets are like waterbeds, walls are warping and paint is bubbling. Large furniture like our couch, king bed, chest of drawers, etc was moved from one side of the room to the other, or even flipped and broken apart in some cases. Our fridge was laying flat on the floor, our deep freezer in our well house turned on its side. Clothing items, kitchen items, etc are displaced all throughout the home. Not to mention the layer of mud/river silt, leaves and other debris that is coating everything.
I (Rhiannon) also run a business out of our home, which will be put on pause while the dust settles and the extent of damage can be assessed. A majority of my supplies and tools were damaged and I am unable to continue this extra added source of income during this time.
Unfortunately, as one tends to do in situations such as this, we cannot help but go through all the "could've, should've, would've" moments leading up to this event. We were naive and trusted the loan officer that said our home was a 1/100 flood zone and if it did flood that it likely wouldn't be that bad. This flood of course is reaching and exceeding past flood records. We wish we would've had better insurance, we wish we would've thought to grab certain things in the little time we had, but we are here in the aftermath just trying to figure out where to go from here. We're going to be paying a mortgage for a "home" that is not able to be lived in.
Like I've said above, our place may not have been the biggest, nicest place. But it was were we called home, where we were safe. A place we bought just a few months after we had Madison (now 3yr) and where we got to bring home our son Jesse Jr just 1 short year ago. A place that we've made memories together. We are not ones to ask for assistance unless we really need it, and we truly do. Anything you can do to help us is appreciated. Not just financially, but also just as an ear to listen and sympathize in our time of transition. We have a long road ahead of us and we can use any help possible.
Please consider donating if you have the means or sharing with anyone and everyone and asking them to do the same.
-The Barsness Family
Unfortunately, as one tends to do in situations such as this, we cannot help but go through all the "could've, should've, would've" moments leading up to this event. We were naive and trusted the loan officer that said our home was a 1/100 flood zone and if it did flood that it likely wouldn't be that bad. This flood of course is reaching and exceeding past flood records. We wish we would've had better insurance, we wish we would've thought to grab certain things in the little time we had, but we are here in the aftermath just trying to figure out where to go from here. We're going to be paying a mortgage for a "home" that is not able to be lived in.
Like I've said above, our place may not have been the biggest, nicest place. But it was were we called home, where we were safe. A place we bought just a few months after we had Madison (now 3yr) and where we got to bring home our son Jesse Jr just 1 short year ago. A place that we've made memories together. We are not ones to ask for assistance unless we really need it, and we truly do. Anything you can do to help us is appreciated. Not just financially, but also just as an ear to listen and sympathize in our time of transition. We have a long road ahead of us and we can use any help possible.
Please consider donating if you have the means or sharing with anyone and everyone and asking them to do the same.
-The Barsness Family
The Beginning:
On Tuesday the 16th:
The Good - We're all safe and healthy:
Organizer
Natalie Barsness
Organizer
Everson, WA
