By Emely Miranda-Aguilar
With the kind permission of Asheley Thomas
The then 21 -year -old Asheley Thomas was at home alone with her pets when almost three years ago a violent thunderstorm blew to her family's little Berwyn house and crushed about half of the living space. Her parents were not at home at the time, and when they tried to return, they could not reach their street because she was blocked. Her father had to drive over a sidewalk to get to his daughter.
Neighbors, including the next door, Maryland Senator Jim Rosapepe (District 21), came out to help Thomas and the pets to leave the house. One of the trees that fell on Thomas's house fell from Rosapepes backyard.
“Trees were down everywhere,” said Rosapepe. “The home behind us, all sorts of other trees. It was a classic example of an extreme weather event that I took into account due to climate change. We had no such extreme weather events in Berwyn decades ago.”
Almost three years later, the Thomas family lives under one roof that is patched up with a tarpaulin.
Thomas said the house was assured by the family company of the family, emigrant Mortgage, which rated the damage as the remaining amount of the mortgage loan. Thomas said that emigrants rather award the mortgage of the house than repairs.
Now it's our problem, ”said Thomas, who described the house a” ticking time bomb “.
If a tree falls into a house, the insurance company, which covers the damaged property, pays the claim. The owner of ownership from which the tree fell cannot claim the damaged at home of another person.
Thomas, whose parents are retired, said the family could not afford to pay repairs.
She said the family lives from her father's income and what she deserves and he deserves strange jobs. Her father, a former contractor, has cancer and cannot do the repairs herself, she said.
Rosapepe and other neighbors helped the family to search for grants from the state and the city. The Mayor of College Park, Fazlul Kabir, said the city donated 5,000 US dollars for invoices and instructed the thomases to apply for other urban subsidies, but the family did not pursue them.
Then, at the end of last year, a Lothian contractor, who knows some of the neighbors of the Thomases, said ready to take over the project free of charge. Chris Marshall, who belongs to the North Star Companies, told College Park here and now that the work that was supposed to start at the end of April should be completed within one month.
Marshall said he received donations from a “wealthy friend” and 84 wood and his company would pay for some of the repairs. Neighbors have set up a Gofundme page to help Marshall compensate for the costs, said the contractor.
Marshall remembered Terry Thomas, Asheley's mother, and said she was almost in tears.
“I just said,” Don't worry. We'll take care of it, “said Marshall.” You have to help people if you can. ”
Marshall said that he planned to repair the part of the roof on which one of the trees fell, as well as the section above the front door near the living room and the roof building above the garage. He also plans to install a heating system in the creeping room of the house. The project could cost more than $ 50,000, Marshall estimated.
“[I feel] Very relieved, “said Asheley Thomas. [extinguished] So often, and so we just didn't understand our hope anymore. … [Marshall has] In any case, restore our hope and faith in humanity. ”