GRANTS PASS, Ore. — A weekend of torrential rain and severe flooding wreaked havoc in southwestern Oregon, leaving many residents grappling with the aftermath. Among those hardest hit was the Polder family, who found their home submerged as a result of a rapidly overflowing culvert.
Andrew Polder, a father of three, described the harrowing experience as the floodwaters quickly swarmed around their property. “It started just filling up real quick, and it just started coming in,” Polder said. “Our house was literally in a little river all the way around both sides of the house… all sides of the house had water, and it was pretty crazy.”
The family’s efforts to control the rising waters were immediate but ultimately unsuccessful. The children reached out to their grandmother, Paula Young, for help as the situation worsened. Young recalled the moment her grandchildren called, terrified. “She was crying, saying, ‘Nana, there’s lots of water, I’m scared.’ And I said, ‘It’s okay, it’s just water,’” she said. However, upon arriving at the home after work, Young was shocked to find the extent of the damage. “By the time I got here, their entire place was underwater.”
Family and friends quickly rallied to assist the Polder family, trying various methods to stave off the floodwaters. Pumps, inflatable water barriers, and makeshift walls constructed from wood and construction foam were used in an attempt to keep the water from entering the home. Despite their best efforts, the floodwaters began seeping through the walls, saturating the floors and rendering the home uninhabitable.
Walking inside the house was like walking on a waterbed, with the water sloshing beneath their feet. The damage forced the family to vacate their home, focusing instead on removing soaked flooring and assessing the full extent of the destruction.
As the family works to recover from the disaster, the community has stepped up to offer support. Neighbors and local volunteers have been helping with cleanup efforts, though the road to rebuilding will be long and challenging. The Polders are now facing the daunting task of not only repairing their home but also ensuring they can return to normalcy after this life-changing flood.