Project Floor by Flooret
When Hurricane Helene swept through Spartanburg, South Carolina, it left behind a trail of destruction for many families, including Ellen, her husband Michael, and their two children. Their single-story ranch home, which they have had the joy of living in over the last four years, was devastated by floodwaters. Living in an area where hurricanes occur rarely, if at all, they weren't prepared with flood insurance and were faced with covering all rebuilding costs out-of-pocket.
"It was just devastating," Ellen recalled. "It felt like something you see in a movie, not our real life." After evacuating on Friday morning as the waters rose, the couple returned on Sunday to find most of their belongings ruined - furniture, appliances, even their newly renovated master bathroom. "It was disbelief," Ellen said. "Everything was wet or destroyed."
Despite the heartbreak, Ellen and Michael have remained resilient, leaning on their close-knit community for support. "You can't get through something this big on your own," Ellen said. "You have to be able to let people help you."
This is where Flooret stepped in to lend a helping hand. Through a generous nomination from Ellen's sister-in-law, the family connected with Flooret. Through Project Floor, Flooret will be providing all of the Silvan Engineered Hardwood flooring to help the family rebuild their home.
"We're so thankful for the help," Ellen shared. "The expense alone is a tremendous relief, and we're excited about the durability of the floors for our young son and our dog." The family selected Norde 7" from the Silvan Engineered Hardwood Collection, as it most closely resembles the original hardwood floors they had grown to love.
While the family is currently staying with a neighbor and preparing to transition to an Airbnb nearby, their ultimate goal is to return home as soon as possible. Back in their own space, they’re excited to get back to their favorite activities. Ellen remembered, “One of the things that we spent the most time on the floor doing, I'm going to be honest, is playing Hot Wheels or playing cars. So that will be probably the very first thing that my son and I go in there and do. It’ll just be so nice to feel at home and to be in our own space, have dance parties on our floors, all the silly things that we love to do.”
Though the journey to rebuild has been tough, Ellen and Michael’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and community. With support from friends, family, neighbors and Project Floor, they’re well on their way to creating new memories within the walls of their rebuilt home.
When asked what advice she would give to others facing similar challenges, Ellen said, “Nobody likes asking for help, especially when it comes to money or donations—it’s not a good feeling. But in situations like this, you can’t make it through on your own. You have to lean into your support system and let people be there for you.”
If you or someone you know has been impacted by recent hurricanes and could benefit from Project Floor, please nominate them here.
We look forward to sharing an update on Ellen and Michael’s “After” once their new Norde floors are installed.
