A family thankful for community support after flood destroyed home

The last thing John and Jenny Mackenzie saw last summer was their cars upended and propelled away by floodwaters. Hurricane Beryl turned their house into an island engulfed by surging floodwaters on July 10, this year. Trees slammed into it and water gushed into the basement and first floor at colossal speed. "It was just like it was a horror movie at that point," John Mackenzie said. Another problem they faced was finding a new house. Because the government's programs to buy out flood-destroyed homes hit a snag. However, it was people living nearby who gave them support. Four months after the devastating loss, donations from friends, family, and others in their community helped the Mackenzies find a new house. In fact, The friends set up an online fundraising page that has raised over $160,000 (￥24 million). The family has learned through this experience the importance of opening themselves up to people around them.

As I moved here to go to university, I felt the connection of people was loose. I don't even know the neighbor's name, job, and where they come from. But I think it's important to help each other, especially in a big disaster. So I want to try to greet them with a smile when I meet them on the stairs of the apartment.