Bladen, NC – Rocking gently on the porch of her newly elevated home, Veronica Gillespie breathes in the tranquility that once felt like an impossible dream. For years, every storm brought fear, anxiety, and the threat of losing everything. Now, she finally feels safe.
“The water used to come across the highway and flood me out,” she said. “There are vents under the house, so the water goes under and out and back into the canal. No water is going to take Ms. Veronica out anymore.”
Veronica still remembers the night Hurricane Matthew tore through Bladen County, trapping her and her disabled son inside their home.
“I was in my bed when I heard the sirens,” she said. “They came through and said, ‘You need to evacuate—this area is going to flood.’”
But by then, the water was already rising. With nowhere to go, Veronica called 911 and waited in terror as the floodwaters crept higher and higher.
“It’s nothing but the grace of God that we survived,” she said. “The water was up to the outlets. We could’ve gotten electrocuted.”
The National Guard arrived just in time, bringing Veronica and her son to safety. When the water receded, they returned to devastation.
“Everything in the house was gone,” Veronica recalled. “There was nothing to save. They tore the walls out, and we tried to put it back together.”
Two years later, Hurricane Florence struck, and once again, Veronica lost everything. With no clear path forward, she began to lose hope—until she learned about the Homeowner Recovery Program from her local church. She applied and qualified for a new, elevated home that would protect her from future flooding.
The day Veronica saw her new home is one she will never forget.
“I did a Hallelujah shout,” she said. “I walked up the steps and opened the door. I was so happy; I can’t explain it to you. It was so beautiful.”
More than anything, Veronica treasures the security her home provides—not just for herself, but for her large, loving family. With 27 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, Veronica now has a place where they can visit without fear of the next storm washing everything away.
“I still look up at the house and think, ‘Is this really mine?’” she said. “I’m thankful. Praise God. ReBuild blessed me. ReBuild, you did this for me!”