GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – A family of eight is trying to rebuild their lives after their mobile home was torn apart by a tree during Hurricane Debby’s landfall.
The family who lived in the Palms of Archer is trying to recover after losing their home to a fallen tree. They say this happened around 4 a.m. Monday morning.
“We heard something heavy, and it was only for a moment, but then about 20 to 30 minutes later, it sounded like the whole world had collapsed,” said Maximillian Williams, the RV’s renter. “A tree was literally in the middle of the kitchen and smashed the porch in half.”
The mobile home tenants have five children and another is coming soon. Maximillian says when it happened, he immediately went to check on his children. His youngest son was inches from where the tree fell, but everyone was OK.
“Every time I close my eyes, all I hear is the noise and fear on everyone’s faces,” Maximillian said.
Maximillian says they have since been rummaging through whatever personal belongings they could find and storing them in storage until they find a new place to live.
The family says they don’t know exactly when she will be able to fully recover because they have to start from scratch, but they hope she will be back on her feet soon.
“As a mother, especially as a pregnant mother, I am so emotional and we are so desperate,” said Janine Williams, wife and mother. “I am so glad that everyone is OK, but now I am wondering, what now, what do we do?”
Janine says she just wants everything to be the way it once was.
“I just want my babies home,” Janine said. “That’s it, I just want them home.”
All five children were supposed to start school on Monday, but they say they can no longer do so without teaching materials.
The family has started a GoFundMe campaign for anyone who would like to donate. Click here for more information.
They also say they have a CashApp in case it doesn’t work. Their username is $aceshigh11.
When neither of them is working, they say they are staying at the Quality Inn on Williston Road in rooms 202 and 200, in case you would prefer to book them another night while they try to save up for a new home.
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