Sandy survivor plans to open home for Harvey victims

<p>Guy Madsen's&nbsp;four-bedroom home is typically scheduled to be empty on Columbus Day, but he wants to allow&nbsp;victims&nbsp;affected by Hurricane Harvey&nbsp;to&nbsp;live in it free of charge, and he wants his neighbors to do the same.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Aug 31, 2017, 11:39 PM

Updated 2,601 days ago

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A Seaside Heights homeowner is proposing that displaced Texas families fill rental homes that will be shuttered for the season in the coming weeks.
Guy Madsen owns two homes on Carteret Avenue; one with four bedrooms, another with three. They are typically scheduled to be empty once Columbus Day rolls around, but he wants to allow victims affected by Hurricane Harvey to live in it free of charge, and he wants his neighbors to do the same.
Madsen says he plans to take care of rent and utilities for what he expects to be a two- or three-month stay for a Texas family.
Madsen, like so many others near him, knows the feeling of having to rebuild after Seaside Heights was hit by Superstorm Sandy. It took three and a half years to rebuild his homes after they were flooded by 5 feet of water.
The powerful images coming from Houston brought back those memories for Madsen, and he wants to do what he can.
"I realized there's something that we can all do. Not just myself but other folks that are fortunate to have rebuilt their life to give something back other than some money," says Madsen.
Neighbors say 80 percent of the homes in Seaside Heights sit vacant after summer passes, leaving many opportunities to help, should owners step up.