‘My two-year-old, my nanny, my dog and I were trapped in the house’

Editor

I WOULD like to express my deepest thanks to Upper Umhlanga Security Trust (UUST) and my little community for all their help over the last week.

I was one of the worst hit homes from Monday nights flash flood. My two-year-old daughter, my nanny, my dog and I were trapped in the house and had to break a window to get out, as we did not know how deep the water was going to get. My husband was away on business at the time.

I am utterly blown away and humbled by the love and compassion shown to me by complete strangers. While the rains were pouring down and the four of us stood on the side of the road watching my house flood, help started to arrive.
First a Marshall Secutiry guy was on scene to attend. Then my neighbours from all over started to help. One came and collected my nanny and daughter, and made sure they were fed bathed and looked after.
Many of them offered their homes to me for the night.

The next day the UUST sent at WhatsApp to it’s members saying that I had been badly affected. And the next thing I knew help started showing up in all forms. Some brought their domestic staff to help with cleaning, garden workers were sent round with wheel barrows, and shovels to get the mud out of my house and yard. People that I have never met sent food or came to collect towels to wash them for me. Someone, I have no idea who dropped off a whole box of cleaning supplies, and another that I did not get to meet dropped off a meal for us.
One lady, Kay, bought lunch for all the workers that I had at my property on Wednesday, and dinner for us. Another lady, Ingrid, who owns a B&B in the area let me stay there for a few nights until my bed dried out enough to sleep on. Another bought sand bags and toys and shoes for my daughter. Kevin Webster and George Crewes of the UUST, brought their own shovels and got stuck in.

It was a hugely devastating event, but at the same time my heart is warmed by all of it. I have been in tears often over the last week, but mostly tears of gratitude and thanks. The upper Umhlanga community is amazing and I am so deeply grateful to each and every one who opened their hearts and homes to me to help me through this horrific experience.

Sally Reed
uMhlanga