Assisted living facility rebuilding after flooding

BURNET, Texas (KXAN) — It's been over a week since the destructive flooding hit Burnet County, and some have made progress on cleaning and rebuilding what was left.

Heather Cokendolpher is the owner of Pafford Place— an assisted living center that houses and help the elderly. Cokendolpher and her family lives right by Pafford Place, and when the flooding hit, both the house and the facility were damaged.

Cokendolpher said that she and her family climbed on top of a roof to avoid being washed away in the flood. They stayed there for over three hours.

"We were able to get everyone --all four of us and our two dogs-- up on to this roof," Cokendolpher said.

While up there, Cokendolpher said they couldn’t do much but watch Pafford Place get flooded. First responders eventually came to help— but they couldn’t get to everyone.

“There was eight people in there and they were able to save seven, Cokendolpher said. "Mr. Lee—he was one that didn’t make it out."

Earneset Lee Brizendine, who went by Mr. Lee, was 85-years-old. Cokendolpher said Mr. Lee moved in about eight weeks ago and was loved by everyone.

"After we lost him his family has come to me and said 'I haven’t seen him that happy in many many years.' It gives me a little bit of peace that he got some happy days before he moved to heaven,” Cokendolpher said.

Since the flooding, Cokendolpher said she is grateful for support community members have offered. Her husband Bryan lost his wheelchair in the flooding, but through word of mouth, he got a new one.

Cokendolpher said they’ve made good progress but emphasizes there’s still a long way to go to rebuild Pafford Place to what it used to be.

"It is our goal though to always take care of elderly people,” Cokendolpher said.

A GoFundMe is set up to help rebuild and help assist those displaced in the flooding at Pafford Place. To help, you can click here.