As Texas begins the difficult task of recovering from the devastating floods and unimaginable loss of life, one woman from California is stepping forward to share her story- not to relive the past, but to offer solidarity, compassion and hope to those in the throes of grief and devastation.
Kim Cantin and her daughter survived the deadly 2018 Montecito mudslide, a natural disaster that claimed the lives of 23 people, including Cantin’s husband, her teenage son and the family’s beloved dog. She and her daughter, somehow, made it out alive.
In the years since the Montecito mudslide, Cantin has become a quiet source of strength for others navigating grief and disaster. She continues to support survivor communities through speaking engagements and personal outreach, during which she offers insights into resilience, adaptability and hope.
“There is no shortcut through trauma,” Cantin said. “But I want people in Texas to know that they’re not alone. There is a way forward. The road is long, but there can still be beauty, meaning and even joy again.”
Her story of loss, healing and the enduring bond of love- began in the early hours of January 9, 2018, when heavy rainfall combined with deforestation from recent wildfires caused a series of mudflows northwest of Montecito. The incident was responsible for 23 deaths and caused $177 million in property damage. News of the mudslide that ravaged the unsuspecting community made national headlines. Among those headlines was the tragic story of the Cantin family.
Before the devastating slide reached their home, Kim and Dave Cantin, along with their children, Jack and Lauren, tried to escape in the middle of the night with their dog. Separated during the impact, their fates were now out of their control. After waking up half buried in a pile of mud, boulders and debris that had carried her away from where her home once stood, Kim Cantin was all alone, unaware if any of her family had survived.
After being rescued that morning, she learned that her teen daughter miraculously had been found, buried alive, by search and rescue teams. When tragic news of her husband’s passing came, the gravity of her new reality was heavy to bear. But she held on to hope that her missing son would soon be found. What transpired in the devastating aftermath of the Cantin tragedy is a powerful 3 ½- year journey to find her son’s remains, fueled by love, faith, determination, unconventional support and unexpected wisdom.
Following the tragedy, she chronicled her story in her seven-time award-winning memoir, Where Yellow Flowers Bloom, which gently illustrates that even in the darkest moments, signs of life and hope can emerge.
For more information, visit: kimcantin.com.