BEAUMONT, Texas — The Anayat House, a Beaumont nonprofit, provides a place to stay for families of loved ones in the hospital. Right now the house is empty and gutted after it took in almost a foot of water from Tropical Storm Imelda.
Tressa Clarke is the Executive Director of the Anayat House.
She says just Monday she has received five calls from people asking to stay and she has had to turn them away.
"We're in the business to help to people. That's what we do,” Clarke said. “And when you can't do what you're meant to do, it's a very heartbreaking feeling."
Right now they are in the drying process. Servpro has been in the house day in and day out to try and get it ready for a contractor.
Clarke said she never imagined anything like this would happen because they did not flood in Harvey.
She says they had enough warning before Harvey to evacuate guests and move things to higher ground.
That wasn’t the case this time.
"It was so shocking to me when I received a call at 4 in the morning from a guest staying here and she said 'Tressa, water's coming in,' and I asked from where and she said it's coming in everywhere," Clarke said.
The Anayat House had damage to six guest bedrooms, the library, kitchen and many other rooms in the house.
They lost tables, chairs, appliances and bedroom furniture. She says many people have offered to donate but right now they have no where to store donations.
“I can't keep flooded furniture with the people that we serve. People with immune systems that are weak and compromised. So we have to make sure that everything is up to a certain standard, and we will do that. We are doing that."
Clarke says right now they are aiming to be back open by the New Year. She hopes the community will come out to support their upcoming fundraisers.
Most of the funds raised will go toward reopening.
A 'Rock the House' fundraiser is set for Friday, January 31 at 7 pm. at Beaumont Event Centre. Guests are invited to wear casual attire, like a concert t-shirt or leather to hear a Rolling Stones tribute band.
A Kendra Scott trunk show is set for Wednesday, November 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Alter's Gem Jewelry located at 3155 Dowlen. Champagne Hour will be from 5-6.
The director of another hospitality facility, the Reaud Guest House, released a statement to 12News, saying "The Reaud Guest House mission has always been to give a families who have loved ones in the hospital or receiving outpatient treatment in local hospitals a place of rest and comfort. We are extremely saddened by the loss sustained by Anayat House, our fellow medical hospitality facility. Our doors are graciously opened to those patients who have been affected by the closure of Anayat House and need medical lodging. Contact us at 409-212-6500."
