HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. — When returning home, most suitcases are unloaded. This isn’t the case for Adele Barcia or her granddaughter Sarah Feliccia.
The two were in Haywood County last year when the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred hit.
What You Need To Know
Tropical Storm Fred hit on August 17, 2021
The storm caused flash flooding in Haywood County
Adele Barcia was given $315 by FEMA
“We had to leave about six weeks ago because that river was getting too high,” Barcia said.
When she told Feliccia to grab a bag, Feliccia pulled one out, already packed.
“I have anything and everything you probably need,” Feliccia said.
The pair has been through this before.
They think of the events of August 17, 2021, every day. Feliccia was working, while Adele Barcia was home. Tropical Storm Fred caused flash flooding in Haywood County.
“I didn’t know where she was when her phone died,” Feliccia said. “It was one of the scariest nights of my life.”
The two were apart during the storm, thinking of each other the entire time.
Barcia has lived next to Pigeon River for 16 years. A river that is supposed to bring her serenity and peace as the water flows down the stream. But that day, it became Barcia’s biggest fear.
“The noise was unbelievable,” Barcia said. “Everything from my neighborhood went through my basement and out the other end.”
One of the items that crashed through her basement was an entire mobile home.
“I knew there was no way we were gonna get out,” Barcia said. “So I just prayed. I prayed a lot.”
Water rescue teams saved Barcia and her golden retriever, Precious, as their stairs and basement were destroyed underneath them.
The stairs weren’t the only thing gone. Important documents, like Feliccia's guardianship papers and decades-owned appliances, were never seen again.
According to Barcia, her damage was estimated at $90,000. She said she was given $315 by FEMA.
Spectrum News 1 reached out to FEMA to learn why Barcia received the amount she did and about the process.
Ron Roth, a FEMA external affairs officer who is supporting N.C. disaster relief, said the organization can't comment on specific cases due to privacy issues.
He did give examples of reasons the aid might be lower than a recipient expects, and said it is because FEMA looks at “essential living spaces” only and making sure the living space is viable. Roth also said if a resident has flood or homeowners insurance, FEMA cannot duplicate those benefits.
“I have to commend the folks and their fortitude,” Roth said about the community rebuilding. “It’s a tough road, but it’s good to see the community come together.”
In the past year, she had the opportunity to repair her stairs and some of her basement. As she stares at a mound of debris, she thinks of all she has left to do.
“I just can’t do the repairs that need to be done. I don’t have the health to do it,” Barcia said.
Barcia believes she is lucky to be here at all after the flooding, and she believes it is solely due to the elevation of her home.
“You’d be looking for our bodies too, and that’s not a lie," Barcia said. "My house is right on the riverbank."
Every time it rains, Barcia’s heart races. Her eye remains on the riverbank, and she prays that it doesn’t overflow, again.
“I don’t know if we could withstand another,” Barcia said.
Clarification: This article was updated to include information from FEMA.