Kings Grant resident returns to house after flood devastation

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — A dam break on Fort Jackson wreaked havoc on the Kings Grant neighborhood, during the early morning hours Sunday. The water came and rose quickly, and just like that, it was gone, but this neighborhood will be feeling its effects for years to come. Lifelong Columbian Gokul Gondi let us into his home, which he was forced to evacuate with his pregnant wife and two young daughters, after it flooded. They were able to evacuate on rafts. The water came from Wildcat Creek. Within six hours, Gondi says the creek had receded. Their house tells a different story. “It’s an affluent neighborhood and these are affluent homes,” Gondi says. “No one’s looking for sympathy, but it’s peoples’ hard work and their lives. It’s kind of gone.” The Gondis have already starting restoration. Crews have pulled out all the wet sheet-rock, the family’s belongings have been taken out, and on day five, it’s still hard to believe. “This is my life, this is my family, this is my everything,” he says. “It’s a safe place for my wife and kids and I don’t know if they’ll ever really feel that.” For Gondi, it’s not about the clothing, or the toys. “I have a five-year-old, a two-year-old and a newborn. my wife was in labor, got out of labor and did not have the baby inside.” She did have the baby in a hospital Wednesday. They’re still deciding on a name for the little girl. Not having a house for the girls to call home is hard for this father. “Everything that I’ve done in my life has been for my children,” Gondi says. “I don’t need a nice house. This is for my kids.” Though, he knows home is where his family is, and together, they will be okay.