STORM 2006: Business owner still feeling effects from Storm 2006 damage
A new shipment of white daisies arrives at Heaven Scent Florist, and right away, Rafael Delfin gets to work cutting and hydrating the flowers.
He jokes that working with flowers is not stress free. “A lot of people think it’s easy but when you’re doing it, it’s not,” says Delfin.
His face may not show much, but as he removes every leaf and stem, he’s constantly reminded of the number 90,000. That number is how much he had to take out in loans to help pay for the damage left behind by Storm 2006.
For more than 30 years, Rafael and Irma Delfin have been creating flower arrangements for customers throughout the borderland. But it has been the last 10 years that have been a real challenge for the business owner and his family.
“There’s times that it’s good times. You have money to pay everything,” says Delfin. Choking up, he adds, “but there’s times that you have to, you know, how to stretch the money.”
Delfin’s business is located near Thunderbird and Mesa in west El Paso, one of the hardest hit areas during Storm 2006.
The fast-moving waters swept away a truck with merchandise and equipment, a $50,000 loss. The floods also caused $40,000 worth of damages inside the building.
“Everybody thinks that you get free money with FEMA,” says Deflin. “But since the water didn’t come in from the top, there was nothing to be paid.” Delfin adds that he his still 20 years away from paying off the $90,000 loan.
Teary-eyed, he talks about the people who have helped him get back on his feet. But he admits that he can’t think about retiring because he has one more child to put through college.
“It’s better to laugh than cry. As long as I have hands and feet to move around, we’ll get up again and keep going,” Delfin says. “So far, we’re here and thanks to our loyal customers who helped us out to recover here 10 years and going.”
Business is slow right now for Heaven Scent, but Deflin is looking forward to the holidays when people order flowers for Hanukkah and Christmas.
Delfin does have flood insurance – just in case .
