Grants Pass, Oregon- A Grants Pass family has been forced from their home after it was flooded by heavy rainfall this evening. According to estimates, Grants Pass received over three inches of rain in the past 24 hours, leading to significant water accumulation.
Grants Pass residents McKenzi and Andrew Polder said they first noticed water pooling in their backyard around 11:30 a.m. They immediately contacted friends and family for help. More than a dozen people responded, bringing five pumps, sandbags, and a skid steer to try to prevent further damage.
“It just happened so fast,” McKenzi said.
Despite their efforts, the rain continued, and the water level rose faster than it could be pumped out. Andrew shut off the power when water entered the garage, knowing it was only a matter of time before it breached the ground floor.
The couple has three young children, including a five-month-old infant. Family members helped care for the children while McKenzi worked to save precious memorabilia and clothing. Andrew, who had recently recovered from emergency surgery two weeks earlier, was adding sandbags around the front door as fast as he could.
The Polders told Medford Alert that they purchased the home in the fall of 2021 and had been slowly renovating it. “It’s heartbreaking to see something you work so hard for be destroyed right in front of you,” McKenzi said.
The group fought the rising water for six hours, but eventually, several inches of standing water remained on the ground floor. The family evacuated once it became clear the house was uninhabitable.
Late this evening, their eight-year-old son told his mother, “I just want to go home.”
As of this tonight, the Polders are temporarily staying with family in the Grants Pass area. They plan to return to their beloved home in the coming days to assess the damage. “We didn’t have flood insurance because the lot wasn’t even in a 100-year flood plain,” McKenzi said. “Now, the only home my kids know is totally unlivable, and it breaks my heart for them. I’m thankful we are all safe, but I’m still kind of in shock. All their toys and the memories we made as a family together—I’m just in shock.”
A family member has started a GoFundMe campaign to support the Polders as they begin the long recovery process.
McKenzi said they are grateful for the support they have received.
“Homes can be rebuilt, but the support of our friends and family that dropped everything to help us today will never be forgotten or taken for granted. I’m forever grateful,” she said.
Here is the link to the families GoFundMe.
Medford Alert is not affiliated with or connected to any GoFundMe campaigns mentioned in our reports. Any links provided are for informational purposes only. We advise readers to verify the legitimacy of any fundraising efforts before contributing.
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