Families in our community continue to grapple with the enduring impacts of Hurricane Florence, years after the storm. Among those affected is Terrica’s family. Terrica, a devoted mother of three young children, is local to the Cape Fear area and serves as a Child Nutrition Manager in a county school. She finds solace in writing, music, and the beach. When asking Terrica what is most important to her, she replied, “My kids are number one. They’re my whole world, and my health.” Terrica describes herself as the type of person that will give her shirt off her back to help others – she always wants to help someone in need.

When Hurricane Florence hit in 2018, Terrica did not have the means or transportation to evacuate. She and her three children remained in their home. Eventually, they lost electricity, and her entire apartment was flooded by rain and sewage, ruining all her belongings. Terrica’s options were either relocating to an unfamiliar town or waiting for her apartment to be repaired. Since then, Terrica and her kids have had to relocate to three different apartments, with rent continuously escalating.

In November 2022, Terrica applied for the Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program. She heard about the program through friends and family, many of whom encouraged her to apply. At first, she was hesitant about the responsibilities associated with homeownership. Eventually, she thought to herself, “I’ve managed this far, I can get through anything. Just try it.” When she found out she was accepted, she described feeling a sense of relief – a relief from the impacts of Hurricane Florence that she is still experiencing to this day. “It seems like it was just yesterday,” she said. “I’ve come so far, and it’s been so long.”

Terrica describes how much she has learned from the Homeownership Program and working with Cape Fear Habitat. She has discovered a support system with the compassion and encouragement our staff provides. Throughout the program, she learned invaluable skills such as budgeting and disaster preparedness. “Any time a hurricane comes, I’m prepared. Everything is there,” said Terrica.

Terrica moved into her new home in October 2024. “I look at my story as a blessing,” Terrica said. “They always tell you that you have to get through the storm to get to the sunlight. I believe in that. You have to get through the storm, cause there’s a rainbow at the end of it.”