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Navy vet who served in SD devastated by flooding in Louisiana

Posted at 5:47 PM, Aug 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-23 10:18:48-04

A Navy veteran who served in San Diego is among those devastated by the Louisiana flooding.

Tony Sylvest served in the Navy for 20 years. After he retired, he said money was tight. He and his family moved near other family members in Louisiana for a lower cost of living. He was trying to make life a little easier for them.

"You know as a man you feel like you failed your family," he said with tears in his eyes. "Just bringing them down here to all this and then not able to do everything you can."

They had not even finished unpacking when mother nature ripped nearly everything they had from them.

"We had evacuated my sister to my house the night before because we were told my area was safe… it never floods there," he explained.

Flood waters filled his home. They lost their cars, furniture and priceless items like photos.

After they lost their little dog, Abby, Sylvest said material items do not matter.

"My dad has always told me tomorrow's never guaranteed so make sure you tell everybody you know you love them," he said as he wiped away tears. "I'm just thankful for what I've got."

They are staying with friends of friends until they figure out what is next. A fellow veteran made a GoFundMe page for the family. You can find it here: https://www.gofundme.com/sylvestfloodfund.