AGUSTIN ROBLES-PAZ
Overcoming Barriers through Patience and Partnerships
On the night of December 10, 2021, Agustin Robles-Paz was at home when the tornado warnings sounded. Though he heard them, he didn’t think the weather would be severe, so he didn’t seek shelter immediately. Suddenly, the winds struck his house with force, tearing off shingles and siding, shattering windows, and shaking the structure. He rushed to take cover in the bathroom, hoping it would be safe enough to protect him.
"I wasn’t physically hurt, but I was very scared," Agustin recalls.
His house suffered significant damage. Beyond losing shingles and siding, the tornado shifted the entire house off its foundation. The roof was severely compromised, allowing rain to pour inside, quickly ruining much of what was left. Though his home was in such dire condition, the American Red Cross denied his claim for assistance. Unfortunately, Agustin wasn’t aware that he could appeal their decision. Thankfully, he did receive some aid from FEMA, which, although limited, he appreciated.
In the weeks following the tornado, Agustin began the long process of cleaning up. "I stayed in my house and started to clean up. There was debris everywhere," he shares. "A few days after the tornado, a group of people came by to help, but I had to clean most of it myself." He also received support from his community: local volunteers helped with translating applications for assistance, the Catholic church provided food, and the Baptist church assisted with utility expenses.
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Eventually, Agustin's situation improved when a friend who lived nearby told him about the Mayfield Graves Long-Term Recovery Group (MGC LTRG). Through the MGC LTRG he was assigned a TWKUMC case manager, Brenna, who is bilingual. Brenna connected Agustin with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP), one of the LTRG’s building partners. Thanks to this connection, ASP is now building Agustin a new home.
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The recovery process hasn’t been without its challenges. "I have patience issues," Agustin admits. "I had to learn to wait because a house isn’t built in a day. And living at Camp Graves, far from Mayfield, hasn’t been easy. But I try to stay calm, wait, and focus on helping others while I’m being helped. Having a place to stay while my house is being built is far better than nothing."
Agustin is grateful for the support he has received. "FEMA and the Mayfield Graves LTRG helped me. The LTRG office gave me the help I needed the most," he says, recalling that going to the MGC LTRG office to talk and vent, where there is “always help there and ears who will listen,” has been a blessing in Agustin’s journey towards recovery.
Looking ahead, Agustin plans to build a storm shelter on his property to be better prepared for future weather emergencies. "Next time, I can’t stay in the house," he reflects. He urges others to take severe weather warnings seriously and to seek shelter as soon as possible. "Be prepared before it’s too late," he advises.
