The Lake County community is stepping up to support one of its own after flash flooding in late October devastated the home of a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy and youth baseball coach.

Lt. Cameron Crews, a deputy with the sheriff’s office and a coach in the Mount Dora Babe Ruth League, and his family were forced from their Eustis home after nearly 20 inches of rain fell in just a few hours on Oct. 26. It was the same storm that took out many roads in Mount Dora and Eustis.

The floodwaters, which hit a neighborhood outside a designated flood zone, destroyed all of the home’s downstairs flooring, the lower two feet of drywall and kitchen cabinets. During demolition, crews discovered the house needed to be completely re-piped, requiring an upstairs bathroom to be gutted as well.

“It just keeps growing more extensive, and more expensive,” the family says.

While Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have assisted with cleanup and demolition, the family faces a long and costly rebuild. Because the home was not located in a flood zone, the Crews family did not have flood insurance and must now cover all repair expenses out of pocket.

Cameron’s wife, Sherry Jo Crews, homeschools the couple’s three children. Friends, colleagues and members of the local baseball community have since launched donation efforts to help the family recover and return home.

Community members describe the Crews family as deeply involved in local service, both through law enforcement and youth sports, and say the outpouring of help reflects the impact they’ve had on others.

Donations are being collected to help the family rebuild and replace what was lost in the flooding and a GoFundMe has been set up.