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Two Queens families are in shock after flash flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida destroyed their home and their children’s school supplies about a week before school started.
“It’s all gone, destroyed,” sobbed mother Sunciya Vijayarajah, 42, whose family lived on the first floor of Flushing’s home, to The Post on Friday.
“I couldn’t control myself today. I don’t send them to school next week, maybe next month. My husband and I have to work and save to buy back some of these supplies. ”
Floodwaters from the Ida rain dam swept over the two-story house where the families live and inundated the basement and the first floor, destroying nearly $ 3,000 in school supplies, Vijayarajah said.
“It’s horrible. In two hours our lives changed forever. Our world has come to a standstill. I don’t know how long it will take to get back to normal,” said Jayaraman Venjayesh, 46, who lives with his wife and children on the second floor of the house and stored school supplies, toys, clothing and groceries in the basement of the house.
“It’s going to take a long time.”
Vijayarajah said she just spent $ 1,500 on supplies for her 17-year-old daughter, who is preparing for her first semester at Hunter College, and $ 300 more for her 14-year-old high school and $ 350 for her 9-year-old. . one year old son. The book bags, iPad, laptops, headphones, books and crayons she bought for her children were all destroyed by the flooding, Vijayarajah said between tears.
“My oldest was screaming yesterday. She is not eating. Her princess bedroom set – it’s all gone, garbage. She said, ‘I don’t want to stay in this house. Please buy a new house, ”Vijayarajah shouted.
“We don’t have gas, so there is no food. The food we have, we have to throw it away, ”she said, pointing to bags of rice on the sidewalk.
“There are too many lost. I have to renovate the house. I’m looking at almost $ 100,000. Where am I going to get this money from?
Shashikala Kupusamy, Venjayesh’s wife, said their 6-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son are in the Gifted and Talented program at their Whitestone school and that the $ 600 in supplies she bought for them was ruined by the flood.
“I’m going to go to school and ask for time to buy the supplies,” said Kupusamy, a substitute teacher.
“I help them stay on track.
Kupusamy said that after the floods destroyed her and her husband’s car, she also does not have the opportunity to bring them to school.
“I need a car to take them to school. Since COVID, I don’t allow them to take the school bus. One of our cars was scrapped and the other insurance took it, ”the mother said.
“I haven’t slept for two days. I’m worried. I’m confused. I do not know what to do.
“Only God can help me.
The storm destroyed homes in the district and killed at least 13 people across the city, including a 2-year-old boy who reportedly drowned in his basement apartment with his parents.
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