Camp Sonshine of Iola provides safe haven for evacuee families

Ike evacuees: Grimes County First Responder Christy Williams, far right, brings Hurricane Ike evacuees a $500 gift card donation from Zion Methodist Church of Iola as a donation of toys, clothes and other items from Navasota arrives at Camp Sonshine in Iola on Friday, Oct. 3. Examiner Photo by Rosemary Smith

BY ROSEMARY SMITH, Examiner editor

Approximately 22 former Hurricane Rita evacuees, including small children and elderly adults, returned to Camp Sonshine of Iola during the mandatory Hurricane Ike evacuation on Sept. 11. With just enough clothes and money to last a few days, about half of the evacuees remained at the camp until Monday, Oct. 6, where they were welcomed with food, shelter and other items that they say made their extended stay a pleasant experience despite their severe losses.

One family found a temporary home with assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and two others found shelter at friends’ homes.

“It’s 30 miles from home and it’s temporary, but it’s a lot better than a motel room. Ike broke my home in two. The backside is just lying on the ground and the house is about four feet from where it was before,” said 44-year-old Sandra McDaniel, who has been an Oak Island resident for the past 34 years.

Neither Sandra nor her sister Marjorie Lynn Osborne Marsh, 41, also of Oak Island, had home insurance when Ike drowned their homes in 25 feet of water.

“I just had the clothes that I brought because my mom didn’t think that it would be that bad. If it wasn’t for Christy (Iola City Marshall Christy Williams), I wouldn’t have any clothes,” said Sandra’s 22-year-old daughter Nicole, who brought her two young sons, Billy, 1, and James, 2, with her.

Sandra, who made a fourth trip home to find a lot for a mobile home this past weekend, just before the news of a temporary home, paid $130 in gas for the round trip in the family’s truck. The family left most of their belongings that were donated to them at the camp, because of a lack of room.

Besides mounting expenses, increased frustration came from the daunting task of searching to find a place closer to home.

After numerous phone calls to motels that were either completely booked or did not want to accept FEMA, Nicole found a motel in Winnie on Friday, Oct. 3. The desk clerk told her that the two rooms were only open for three days and had to be paid for in advance. No reservations were allowed.

Fortunately, Sandra’s husband, Wayne, was only 30 miles away, since he had returned to work for an oilrig company a few days after Ike’s exit from the area. Wayne immediately drove to the motel in order to pay cash, not knowing if the rooms would still be available by the time he got there. Fortunately they were, but after three days of searching, the family still didn’t find a permanent home they could purchase.

Though Sandra and her family recently received a $28,800 check from FEMA to help cover the loss, it isn’t enough money to purchase another identical home. The family says they would be happy with a simple mobile home, just so they can regain a sense of normalcy.

“Everybody got the same amount of money. I’ll be happy if we’re within 30 miles of where we used to live. This time we’ll live further inland where the surge can’t get my house,” said Sandra.

Marjorie is still waiting for a reimbursement check that was put on hold as FEMA tried to resolve a computer glitch.

According to Marjorie, she told a FEMA representative that she had not seen her house personally, because she did not have gas money to make the trip home, but had seen photos that showed it had been completely damaged. The representative put “unknown” in the damage assessment section and the answer was not recognized by the computer system.

Marjorie has been staying at the camp with her son Michael, 19; nephew Paul, 19; daughter Jessica, 22; and two grandchildren, Cloe, 2, and Anthony, 3.

Fortunately, Iola councilman Jerry Norman and his wife gave the couple enough money to purchase a cell phone to contact FEMA, since Marjorie said the only time they could reach FEMA was between the hours of 11 p.m. and 3 a.m.

Since an inspector was able to report damages to the couple’s home on Sept. 30, the family now has a few more days of waiting before they receive a FEMA check to help them find a decent home and move on with their lives.

For now, Marjorie and her family are grateful for the Iola shelter, where her then 1-day-old grandson Anthony slept on his first trip away from home during the Rita evacuation.

“He took his first bath here in a little silver pot,” said Marjorie with a smile, even though the home she lived in for 20 years with her husband Mike is gone.

“We’ve been homesick, but everyone’s helped make us feel at home here. I went to College Station to talk to FEMA and people were in sleeping bags, sitting side by side,” said Marjorie. “It’s a lot better here than a shelter. We’ve been blessed. Our kids had food and homemade cookies, went fishing and swimming at the lake.”

Iola residents even helped the family celebrate Anthony’s third birthday on Sept. 22 with horse rides and presents.

“It’s been nice here. We just sit out here and talk and play with the kids,” said Nicole as she sat on the covered patio at the camp.

Her cousin, Paul, 19, said he passed the time by reading books, and is thankful for the one day he was able to make a little bit of money by picking up tree limbs from the storm.

“It’s been fun up until about a week ago,” said his cousin Michael, who enjoyed riding horses at the nearby home of Bill Williamson, playing basketball and watching movies.

As local residents and Grimes County First Responders brought food and other items to help the families recover, a large donation of clothing, shoes, toys, diapers and wipes came from as far as Navasota.

According to Mary Marsh, 68, who came to Iola with her brother Russell, 57, the road to recovery will be harder on the elderly and those already on limited incomes.

“I’ve never had anything happen like this. It’s devastating. These people are young and can start over. I’m on social security and make a little bit of money taking care of a lady 12 hours a day,” said Mary, who says she is grateful for the help of local residents and the fact that her family is safe.

“Starting over is scary. But I’m not afraid to try. Instead of griping about losing everything, I’m gonna move on,” said Mary.

FEMA community relations representative Sharon Lewis, public information officer Robert Hockensmith, and representative Al Lohse were told about the evacuees when they came to canvass the town of Iola and got in touch with Grimes County First Responder member Christy Williams.

The group is temporarily being officed in College Station and is referring evacuees to the American Red Cross, United Way and The Texas Workforce Commission, which is helping those displaced by Ike with job openings and filing for unemployment.

“There’s even unemployment for the people that were self-employed,” said Lewis, who says the group is assisting an evacuee whose address was not listed with the post office.

“FEMA and the Small Business Administration are like kissing cousins right now. SBA is giving loans for homes, cars and furniture and personal property,” said Hockensmith.

FEMA recipients are able to receive housing aid for up to 18 months. Aid can be extended, based on circumstances.

“Some of them were on welfare, have children and were already struggling to find a job,” said Lewis.

FEMA’s individual assistance division is helping Ike victims with immediate needs such as food, utilities and housing.

Businesses that did not acquire damage, but lost business because of Ike, may also apply for aid.

“There are a lot of programs out there people can use,” said Hockensmith, who strongly encourages those affected by Ike to call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362.

“I already applied for a SBA loan. I don’t want to spend my FEMA money on stuff that’s not gonna last,” said Sandra, who is holding on tightly to the family’s money until a permanent home is found.

“This area is already very proactive. They should be very proud,” said Hockensmith.

On Friday, Oct. 3, Zion Methodist Church of Iola donated $500 worth of gift cards to help cover expenses for gas, cell phone minutes and replacing a pair of broken prescription glasses and purchasing contact lenses.

A fundraiser trail ride for the evacuees will be held in Iola this Saturday, Oct. 11, at 9 a.m. at the Stewart Hall off of C.R. 107. The cost is $10. Barbecue plates will be available for $7and a dance will also be held with $5 admission.

For more information, call Christy Williams at 936-649-2539.