For the second time in six years, Matt Hunziker’s life has been uprooted.
Hunziker, 49, who grew up in Iola before moving to Joplin and later Rockport, Texas, was among the thousands displaced by Hurricane Harvey.
“I was able to salvage some of my clothes,” Hunziker told the Register today. “And my vehicle’s OK. It’s just under a bunch of trees.”
Everything else is gone.
The hurricane was the second such natural calamity to destroy Hunziker’s home.
He was among those caught up in the 2011 tornado that ravaged Joplin.
In both instances, Hunziker was not at home.
He initially planned to ride out the hurricane hours before it made landfall.
“It was a category 2 storm until suddenly it built up to category 4,” Hunziker said. “My friend called and said that if I tried to stay, I’d probably die.”
Hunziker wisely took his advice and stayed at a friend’s house near San Antonio, about 160 miles inland.
He returned Sunday to see his modest two-bedroom home reduced to rubble.
“There wasn’t much flooding,” he said. “I think that’s because we were right in the eye.”
The bulk of the damage came from 100 mph-plus winds accompanying the storm.
Hunziker did not have insurance on his home — he was in the process of renovating it — but already has been in touch with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about assistance.
“It surprised me how quickly FEMA responded,” he said. “It was much quicker than in Joplin.”
Hunziker works as a chef in a local restaurant that, too, was destroyed. He anticipates returning to work after the restaurant reopens, but for now will likely try to find employment elsewhere.
He’s unsure when utilities will be restored to the property; electric and water service are expected to remain spotty in Rockport for the next few days.
“I’d say 50 to 60 percent of Rockport is gone,” Hunziker said.
HUNZIKER is all too aware the awesomeness of nature’s wrath.
He was home with his girlfriend the evening of the Joplin tornado, and did what many Kansas natives do when they hear sirens.
“We got in our vehicle to chase it,” he said.
They made it about a half mile when their SUV was swept up in the twister.
“I don’t know how far we went, but we came down on a telephone pole,” he recalled.
Miraculously, both Hunziker and his girlfriend were uninjured.
Even so, the tornado left its mark on Hunziker.
Hunziker suffered from panic attacks doctors attributed to post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the traumatic event.
In the hurricane’s aftermath, Hunziker said he is experiencing occasional flashbacks when he drives by mangled structures.
Still, he’s eager to rebuild. He plans on doing much of the work himself.
“It’ll be good to keep me occupied,” he said. “It’ll be good therapy.”
He also turns to humor on occasion.
“One of my friends said they’re not going to let me move in with them,” Hunziker laughed. “I guess I’m bad luck.”
