Clarkston family left homeless for third time
CLARKSTON – Disasters have left the Roberts family homeless for the third time in three years.
After being displaced by two hurricanes, the family is homeless after a fire destroyed their mobile home last weekend.
The home was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, said Mike Hohman, assistant chief for Asotin County Fire District No. 1.
Steve and Sonya Roberts, their 16-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son weren’t home when the blaze started.
Sonya Roberts said she and her husband were coming home from a casino at about 3 or 4 a.m. when she joked about all the water on the road. Her husband said it looked like it was from a water tanker.
When they pulled up in front of the smoldering ruin of their home, they realized he was right.
“We rolled up, and there were fire engines all over on the street,” she said. “Then we just stood in the street looking stupid.”
It took about 20 minutes to knock the fire down, Hohman said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Roberts family was living in Pensacola, Fla., when Hurricane Ivan struck in 2004.
“We lost half our house,” Sonya said. “Then we were two weeks without water.”
They moved to New Orleans in June 2005, just in time for Hurricane Katrina.
They not only lost their house, but all their belongings. They left town the day the hurricane hit, and drove to stay with relatives in Lewiston, just over the state border from Clarkston.
“We rented a house, and we were getting back on our feet,” she said. “Then we come back home to a fire.”
All of the family’s belongings were lost in the fire. The Salvation Army found them a temporary place to stay, plus some food and clothing. The family has been referred to the American Red Cross for further aid.
Sonya Roberts said they are looking for another place to rent in Clarkston because the two children want to stay at Clarkston High School.
“This is the third time in three years, and it’s kind of hard,” she said. “It’s kind of a monotony of picking up and starting up again. That’s what you do. You pick up and you go on.”