WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — A Warner Robins family is still recovering after surviving a fire last month.
"I'm not sure exactly what happened," Amy Wells said.
Wells and her mother, Tess Roberts, live together with Wells' sister at 406 Green Street. On May 15, Wells said she woke up at 6 a.m. to the fire in the home.
"I just know I woke up and I first thought I'd check on mom in a minute," Wells said. "So, I was just gonna lay there for a few minutes, but then I smelt smoke and I thought, mmm that ain't right... I got up as soon as I made it to my doorway, and I see this thick, thick, thickest blackest smoke I've ever seen."
They got out safely, but not all of their belongings did.
A Red Cross caseworker meet the two at the scene.
The Red Cross said they respond to over 60K disasters annually, and most of those are house fire calls. They send disaster response teams and volunteer action teams to the scenes to connect families with resources and provide comfort kits to survivors at no charge to them. You can make a $5 donation here to purchase a comfort kit for a survivor in need.
Well said that smoke and water damage ruined most of their property, but the struggles didn't end there.
"Three days after the fire, I had a stroke," Roberts said.
Already suffering from underlying health problems, Roberts said she was in the ICU for a week and unresponsive for days because of stress after the house fire.
After they were released, the Red Cross helped them pay for a few nights at a motel, but the family's stay expired Wednesday at 11 a.m.
"When we leave this motel, we're going back to the house with no water, no power, no food, no clothes," Wells said. "Just, basically, a tent set up in the backyard, and a prayer until her checks come in on the first."
They are seeking any and all help and said they are accepting donations at their home.
"We need a generator to stay in that tent, it's so hot," Roberts said.
"Beyond that, if they have any clothes, or anything they're donating to goodwill, please just bring it there." Wells said. "I'll make sure whatever we don't need goes to somebody that does need it."