DHS resident still picking up pieces from flooding as another storm rolls in

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) -- Anthony Gaona is still recovering from flash flooding that ruined his home and took over parts of Desert Hot Springs nearly two weeks ago.

Gaona's home received several inches of rainfall, damaging the interior and exterior of nearly the entire property. He was out of the country when the storm passed through, not expecting much until his daughter called.

"She said, well, I think your house flooded, and I said, what? She tells me oh there was really a big storm, and a lot of cars were stuck on the street. Then I thought, you have a key to the house, you walk inside to see how it is. So as soon as she walked in, she started crying. I felt bad, I felt like something hit me in my stomach," Gaona said.

In videos shared with News Channel 3, Gaona shows his home, driveway and backyard covered in mud. He says most of his belongings had to be thrown out and his carpet ripped up.

"When I drove by the driveway, I saw all the mud and it was piled high and I couldn't believe it. It shocked me, I felt like breaking down. It really hurt," he said in an emotional interview.

His family says heavy rain and flooding isn't unusual in DHS, but it's never damaged their home this bad.

Without flood insurance, he now worries about the path forward to recovery, and with every drop of rain is holding his breath for what the next storm could bring.

"The agent looked at my policy and said he wasn't going to be able help me. He just shut the door on me," Gaona said.

With little money to finance a rebuild, he hopes the community will help rebuild his home.

"Everybody has their own problems and their own expenses. So, I don't I didn't think anybody is going to come and help me. At this point I still doubt it myself, but I hope."

If you're interested in supporting the family's rebuild, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-dad-recover-from-devastating-flood-damage?cdn-cache=0.