Most of them knew that they probably didn't have a house to go home to. And they were taking care of us. They were staying there with us, but they didn't know whether their homes was existing or not.

They'd asked that we all stay down on the first floor. Then all of a sudden, we looked and there was water seeping in under the doors. The wind was blowing. The kitchen and everything was flooded downstairs, so they weren't able to do anything for us. So they scrambled around and found some bread and made sandwiches for us. They got water up to us. We fared very well.

So we felt that we were in a very safe place.

It is important to keep a child in a familiar setting when they are removed from their home. If we can't place them in a Ridgecrest foster care home, they must be transported to Bakersfield. Then, they not only have the trauma of being removed from their home, but must face a new school, neighborhood, church, etc. Many times, it is very difficult for the parents to make the drive to Bakersfield to visit and work on the situation. Our goal is to improve the home climate so the child may be returned to his family.

She is recovering at home.

We're able to place second and third mortgages, which don't become payable until they sell their home at some point in the future. So, actually, their monthly payment is lower.