JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville family of six was displaced after a flash flood destroyed a rental home.
VIDEO: Cars stranded, trash can floats down road amid widespread flooding in San Marco
The flooding resulted in a total loss of clothing, furniture, and an electric wheelchair among other things.
Jessica Poole and her family rented the home and said it flooded due to heavy rain and a faulty foundation.
A portion of the wall in a laundry closet burst after rainwater built up behind it.
“The water was flowing in like a river,” explained Poole. “Very quickly, the water was to our knees. We were in the middle of switching out clothes for the seasons, and things started floating and tipping over, and we had to worry about getting my husband out, who’s a paraplegic, and getting the kids out.”
Poole and her oldest son put her three younger children out of the living room window as opening the front door would have let more water in. Opening the door would have also further submerged her paralyzed husband, Larry Poole.
She then called first responders for help.
For over an hour, the Poole family sat in the flooded home trying to figure out how to get out.
“I’m sad. I don’t think I’ve given myself a chance to stop because I’m so worried about taking care of my family and making sure that we try to get everything we need,” said Poole. “It makes me feel -- I don’t have a word for it because I’m trying not to cry. It makes me feel helpless.”
The family will now have to relocate and start over.
A family friend started a GoFundMe to support the Poole family.