Navigating Dangerous Waters: A Family’s Daring Departure
Photos by Rob Moorman
After a distress call from his dad, Vance Fort made plans with his best friend Joel Stradley to rescue his family fleeing the floodwaters of Hurricane Helene. Vance’s teenage sister, Violet, suffering from Rett Syndrome—a genetic neurological disorder that causes loss of motor skills—and scoliosis, was unable to walk or swim. After waiting an hour at the meet up location with no contact from his family, the two young men who serve together at Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg, FL, began swimming through the water toward the Fort family home, praying that python snakes, alligators, bull sharks, and dangerous currents weren’t lurking below the surface.
A Three-Hour Journey
The Forts brought their kayaks inside as a precaution. With the unexpected rise of water, they were forced to evacuate out a window in their home.
When a second water surge hit Allen and Kimberly Fort’s St. Petersburg home in the coastal community of Shore Acres around 11 p.m., it overwhelmed the nearby sewer plant infrastructure, releasing over a million gallons of wastewater into the neighborhood. The combined rushing waters blocked all access to their home. Looking at each other, they asked, “Did we make the wrong decision by not evacuating?”
The Shore Acres community is well acquainted with the impact of storms. Even in the absence of a hurricane, the town is vulnerable to flooding. It has become so mundane for the residents that even when advised to evacuate, many were unafraid of the danger from Hurricane Helene.
“Everyone plans for A, B, and C, but there are other letters of the alphabet that we don’t plan for.”
Accustomed to flooding tendencies, the Forts use a portable flood barrier, which is more practical and effective than sandbags. “A neighbor of ours has been there for 60 years and never been flooded,” observed Allen. So, he didn’t feel a need to treat this storm different from the rest.
Allen Fort’s young son, Carson, helps with repairs to the family home after the cataclysmic flooding. The whole family is thankful they were spared from Cat 5 Hurricane Milton that arrived on the heels of Helene.
In a matter of minutes, that all changed. “Everyone plans for A, B, and C, but there are other letters of the alphabet that we don’t plan for,” Allen stressed. “You might plan for a hurricane, but you don’t plan for a power outage, the streets being inaccessible, or your house flooding.”
Helene proved to be unlike any storm they had experienced in the past. “All of a sudden we lost power, and we thought: Okay, now we have to go to plan B,” Allen surmised. “We’re on our own.”
“Stand in the middle of your room, stick your arm out straight, and do a 360-degree circle of the room. Anything underneath your arm as you turn around is gone.”
The Shore Acres community gathers in unity in the aftermath of Helene, thankful for the combined relief efforts of Samaritan’s Purse and Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg, FL.
Confined to Shore Acres with no other solutions in sight, Allen put his plan into motion. He had previously thought to put their kayaks in the house in case they had to leave through floodwaters. As the water breached the barrier, they were forced to escape.
Now in survival mode, Allen quickly gathered some belongings and Violet’s medical equipment and loaded them into one of the kayaks. After calling his oldest son Vance to arrange a meeting at the nearby grocery store, he placed Violet into the bed of the other specially modified kayak, pleading with God for their safety as he, Kimberly, two of their kids, and a pet bearded dragon plunged into the fast-moving current.
Despite the catastrophic effects from Helene, Samaritan’s Purse and CC St. Petersburg responded quickly with the love of Christ and helping hands to those suffering.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. Isaiah 43:2a
“We began our three-hour journey,” Allen stated as the tide pushed the family down the street in the cold and dangerous waters. The Forts said they were unaware of how deep the water was as it rose “up to our chests, above our necks, and over our heads at points.” Unable to see what was beneath and nearly impossible to see what was in front of them, the Fort family continued swimming in faith.
While evacuating, the Forts witnessed house after house wiped out by the floods. Weary from swimming and on the verge of losing hope in finding help, they nearly lost the bearded dragon after it was swept out of Allen’s older daughter’s hands. “Kay had to swim back to catch it, and she almost didn’t make it,” disclosed Allen.
Joy in God’s Provision
Because of the threat of mold and unsanitary waste exposure, the relief team removes flooring and walls that were underwater in the Forts’ home.
As Vance and Joel made their way through the water, a man leaving Shore Acres spotted them, claiming they were insane to be venturing into the storm. He was a local who had a double kayak to evacuate from the flooding in Shore Acres. After talking with Vance and Joel, he felt compelled to give them his double-seated kayak. “Ultimately, God provided!” Joel proclaimed in gratitude.
“You know you can’t keep it, but you have to pick it up, look at it, and throw it away. … It would almost be better if it were just gone versus having to touch it, physically throw it out, and [then] see it in your front yard everyday. ”
More than an hour of kayaking dragged on before Vance was able to contact his family through a walkie-talkie radio. “You could hear the joy in their voices when we reached them,” Joel recalled. They decided to meet at the Shore Acres Recreation Center east of the bridge that accesses the large island neighborhood. Around 1:45 a.m., Joel, Vance, and the Fort family were all reunited—joyful and appreciative to God for their safety. The group walked across the bridge, carrying Violet, as they navigated to the grocery store, where first responders were onsite to assist.
Discarding nearly all their belongings on the front lawn to be hauled away, the Forts lost many cherished family heirlooms and beloved items.
The double-strike from Hurricanes Helene and Milton wreaked havoc on many Florida homes. Samaritan’s Purse readily responds to those affected by disasters worldwide, enlisting thousands of volunteers who help rebuild and restore homes.
Overcoming Devastation with Gratitude
After the Forts returned to their home to survey the damage, Allen shared the emotional aftereffects of seeing their home and belongings strewn about in ruins. “You know you can’t keep it, but you have to pick it up, look at it, and throw it away. … It would almost be better if it were just gone versus having to touch it, physically throw it out, and [then] see it in your front yard everyday. When people ask what was damaged, I tell them to stand in the middle of your room, stick your arm out straight, and do a 360-degree circle of the room. Anything underneath your arm as you turn around is gone.”
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1
Just days after Helene swept through, the Forts learned that Hurricane Milton would directly strike their town. After praying, they were relieved to learn that the Category 5 storm had been downgraded to Category 3, significantly reducing its impact on the people of Florida. “For a moment there, it felt like all that we had saved from Helene would now be ruined by Milton,” Allen confessed. Even though their home suffered much loss, the Forts give God the glory for keeping them safe through both storms and are grateful for Samaritan’s Purse and Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg, who have committed to repairing their home.
Beginning the day with prayer, Samaritan’s Purse lifts up those who lost homes, loved ones, and personal possessions. As God’s laborers, they show His love while reaching the heartbroken.
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