LUDOWICI — The water in Yeimaire Sobrado’s home has receded. It left a lasting and damaging imprint.
Sobrado’s Long County home had nearly two feet of water enter it as a result of Tropical Storm Debby-induced flooding, leaving the house unlivable and ruining many of her and her family’s belongings.
Sobrado said nearly all of their furniture is no longer usable, including all their bedroom sets.
“There is no way we can save any of that,” she said.
As the waters began rising August 6, she and her family tried their best to move belongings they could not take with them to a higher spot in the house. They put her daughter’s car on a ramp so the water would not enter the engine.
“We went and grabbed sand bags,” Sobrado said. “As soon as it started coming into our garage, we packed up our stuff and went to my mom’s house in Hinesville. We grabbed tables from the shed and put the more expensive items and clothing up high so hopefully it wouldn’t get ruined.”
Trying to get back into their house, they used a neighbor’s four-wheel drive pickup and a neighbor’s boat, going back to grab essentials they did not collect initially.
“It was so overwhelming we didn’t grab everything we needed to grab,” Sobrado said.
When they got inside the house, getting in through a back window, they saw two feet of water throughout.
“Everything in the house was floating,” she said, including the dog food. “It’s just a pretty bad situation.”
Sobrado said it is not likely they can move back into the house and said the smell is overwhelming. They have called the Federal Emergency Management Agency to seek help, but FEMA is not ready to take applications for assistance, she said. They have been pointed in the direction of resources by the Red Cross, Sobrado added. They also did not have renters insurance.
“At this point, it’s a lot of days being very stressed and crying,” she said. “Right now, we’re a little more calm and trying to take it one day at a time. My community and friends have been very helpful. I cannot express the amount of gratitude for the love and support we have received.”