These floods have also forced the public to confront the ugly truth that there are many city residents who live in very impoverished conditions with very inadequate housing.
We met one such resident today, when 28 year-old single mother Kayla Stevens called the media out to the building that used to be her home. It was not much, but it was all she could afford for her 3 children...and this weekend it all came tumbling down in the heavy rains and flooding.
Daniel Ortiz visited her today and he has that story:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
28 year-old Kayla Stevens and 3 young daughters, ages 10, 6 and 4, used to live here, at this house on Neal Penn Road.
But like other southside residents, her home was among those hardest hit. The floods caused it to fall.
Walking around her humble living space, the water damage was evident. It was clear that it barely protected her and her girls from the elements.
Now, it was only a wreck where wild animals, like this stray dog, and a snake had invaded. Kayla and her daughters were startled from sleep when the house fell at the height of the heavy rain.
Kayla Stevens - Single Mother, Flood Victim
"Early Saturday morning, I and my 3 kids were inside sleeping when I heard the boards started to crack and then the house drop. Actually I didn't know that outside was already flooded. I grab my 4 year old baby and opened the door and we fell into the water up to my belly. I screamed before my baby could have screamed and I had to try swim with my baby in my hands and try to knock on the neighbor's house to have them let me in. This was like 2:30-3:00am in the morning. And so I put my baby in first and then I came back for the other 2 kids who were still inside the house."
From there, the discoveries only got worse.
Kayla Stevens - Single Mother, Flood Victim
"I didn't know what happened to the house, because it happened in the night. It was when I got up the next morning and when I came to check on the house, this is what I come to. Everything got destroyed in my house. My fridge, my TV, my kids' stuff - everything. I am going around to try to get assistance and I am not getting any help. The only person who has helped me right now is Traveler's. The minister and the others haven't sent anything. I am not asking for money. I just want groceries because my kids need to eat. I need clothing for them and I really need a house."
"I went to my minister already and I told him that when it rains, the water come in the house. My house is like shower. But from since it fell on Saturday it's not a shower anymore - it's rain. I went to ask for help already and got nothing came of it."
Kayla and her 2 daughters are hoping that members of the public can and will help them recover.
Kayla Stevens - Single Mother, Flood Victim
"I am a single mother with 3 kids. It's only me and my 3 daughters. So I just asking the media and people to please assist me. This is not politics. I am not asking for money. You all don't need to give me money. Just buy the stuff and give it to me. If you could see all the clothes and everything got destroyed. The only thing I could have save was the clothes that is on my back and my kids. I don't have a job. I am alone. I don't have a man. I only person I have is my family, but at the end of the day, they have their families as well. My baby every time is asking me when we are going home. It hurts me because I cry, I don't want to tell my babies that there is no more home. I sleep in the chair from Saturday. I don't have a bed. I don't have anything. I can't be living off of people."
This evening, we tried reaching her area representative, Patrick Faber, but our calls went unanswered.
Anyone who would like to help this family to get back on their feet, you can reach them at telephone numbers, 622-7670 or 624-4001.
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