In Omaha, Nebraska, a 94-year-old woman is at the centre of a community effort aimed at saving her family home from the devastating impact of recent flooding. Celianne La Rosa, affectionately known as Aunt Cici, has inhabited her property in the Elmwood Gardens neighbourhood for nearly five decades. However, catastrophic floods that swept through Nebraska at the end of September have left her residence in a state of disrepair, rendering it uninhabitable.
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The deluge caused extensive damage to the house, particularly at the basement level where flood waters caused significant erosion. A report from local news outlet KETV suggests that the costs for repairing the home are likely to surpass £50,000. This has placed a considerable financial burden on La Rosa and her family, especially given that her home insurance policy does not provide coverage for flood-related damages.
Celianne’s niece, Paula Zabawa, has been instrumental in spearheading a fundraising initiative through a GoFundMe campaign to garner support for her aunt. Describing her aunt as “a friendly, warm, wonderful person,” she expressed her concern regarding the severity of the damage. The basement has suffered from an inundation of water, mud, and debris, necessitating a complete overhaul of the home’s mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems.
With La Rosa living on a limited fixed income and her status as a widow, the financial implications of the repairs are daunting. Paula has emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating that Celianne’s home was not just her residence but her most significant asset, which is now at risk of losing all value if urgent action isn’t taken. “Cici’s main asset is her home, which is now at risk of being worthless unless we act now and quickly,” Paula said.
In light of the challenges they face, Paula and her husband, Mike, have already taken considerable steps to stabilise the property since the floods struck. Many initial tasks have been completed, including shoring up the house and clearing away significant amounts of debris and mud from the basement. Currently, they are working on planning for the rebuilding of the foundation wall along with restoring essential components like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, preparing the home for the possibility of sale.
Paula highlighted that now is the time for community support, as both she and her husband continue their efforts to restore the home. Furthermore, she made an appeal for volunteers who may wish to contribute their time and skills to help with the restoration process. “Please reach out to me if you have questions or would like to share your time and talents in the restoration or other ideas we can use to help Cici,” she stated.
For nearly half a century, Celianne and her late husband, Matteo, have dedicated themselves to their community, often opening their home to extended family and friends. Paula believes that during this difficult time, her aunt deserves a collective outpouring of support. “She has served her community, and now she deserves our unwavering support,” she stated.
As fundraising efforts continue, family and friends hope to rally enough resources to not only restore Celianne’s beloved home but also to enable her to transition into assisted living care comfortably. The story of Aunt Cici and the ongoing community dedication to her plight underscores the deep ties that often bind neighbourhoods together in times of need.