Amwell Township farm heavily damaged in recent flooding
As heavy rainfall led to flooding on her family’s property Saturday night, all Cailin Knopp could do was watch and listen as her goats screamed in distress.
As a result of Saturday’s flash flooding, the 14-year-old member of the Washington County 4-H program lost the barns and supplies she uses to raise goats and rabbits at her Walker Road home in Amwell Township.
“I don’t play sports. This is kind of my sport,” Cailin said of raising animals.
One barn was swept away by the raging flood water and another larger one was damaged beyond repair.
“Structurally, it’s not really safe and sound. That one was a lot bigger than the one that completely washed away,” Cailin said.
Nikki Knopp, Cailin’s mother, described their property as a smaller “hobby farm,” and said that all the animals belong to her daughter.
She said Cailin has been caring for and raising animals much of her life. When she was just 2 weeks old, Cailin attended her older sister’s rabbit show. At 3, she received her first rabbit to care for.
Cailin has been preparing to show her animals at the Washington County Fair in a couple of weeks. As a member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association, she travels nationwide for rabbit shows.
“Two months ago, we traveled to a national show for her small rabbits in Wichita Falls, Texas,” Nikki said.
Cailin estimates having close to 100 animals at the farm, but that number is higher than usual since she has been breeding rabbits for shows.
After the flood water receded, all of the animals were accounted for.
“By the grace of God, we were able to save her animals,” Nikki said.
During the flood, Nikki waded through thigh-high water in an effort to grab the goats but had to retreat.
“We could hear the goats screaming inside. We could hear them screaming for the next couple of hours, and Cailin just had to sit and listen,” Nikki said. “Those are her babies.”
When they could access the larger barn, Nikki said the door had been ripped off and the bottoms of the walls blown out. Larger goats were standing with water up to their necks. The smaller ones managed to climb up on a table to safety.
Cailin and Nikki said their veterinarian examined the goats, and found them to be in good condition.
“She was like, ‘They shouldn’t even be alive.’ Goats can literally just die of stress. It’s a miracle any of them are alive,” Nikki said.
The Knopp family found the barn that washed away on a neighboring property, with the fainting goats it housed still inside.
Autumn Kosey, Cailin’s older sister, started a GoFundMe campaign to help Cailin rebuild. As of Wednesday afternoon, it had raised more than $4,000 of its $6,000 goal.
Cailin said she wasn’t aware that Kosey was planning on starting a fundraiser.
“My sister completely did it on her own, and I’m really grateful for my sister,” Cailin said. “It’s definitely helping with the fact that we’re going to have to rebuild two barns. I want to do it myself. Part of me is kind of hesitant about taking other people’s help, but I know I need it.”
Nikki said all of the proceeds from the fundraiser will go into an account at Frick Financial Federal Credit Union specifically for Cailin and her rebuilding efforts.
Though the Knopp home was damaged, Nikki says she and her husband own SERVPRO of South Washington County and are well-versed in disaster restoration.
“My husband and I, we do this for a living. This is all supposed to be for Cailin,” Nikki said.
Neighbors also came to Cailin’s aid, offering their barns for the animals in the immediate aftermath of the flood. Cailin is currently using the barn of her 4-H leader to keep the animals, and is still planning to take them to the Washington County Fair.
“I feel kind of bad that I’m taking other people’s time and other people’s space,” Cailin said. “But honestly, I would do it for anyone else.”