What makes a disaster? Is it the flood waters rising to a 500-year high? Or is it the flood waters driving families from homes? When the flood waters recede, is the disaster over? Or, is the disaster still present while lives are yet to be put back together? Cedar Rapids, IA saw the waters of the Cedar River rise to over 31 feet above normal on June 11th. 24,000 people evacuated, leaving 4,500 homes to the flood waters.
Four months later, most of the homes, and all of those families are still trying to put their lives and homes together. The media has moved on to other disasters, until the next storm or earthquake or flood hits, and then it's on to new photo ops. But in Arvada, a first-year college student at the School of Mines didn't forget.
Patricia Littman learned of the need for volunteers to help with the rebuilding efforts, and worked with her church, Arvada Presbyterian, to quickly put a team of volunteers together.
Leaving on Wednesday, October 22, two vans and a trailer, loaded with tools and supplies began the 14-hour drive. In the middle of Nebraska, winter driving conditions slowed their progress. Finally, at 3:30 am on Thursday morning, the volunteers arrived in Cedar Rapids.Their "home" for the next three days would be Christ's Church Presbyterian.
The members of Christ's Church had escaped the flood, but knew they were called to a higher purpose to support those still living in a disaster. They built bunk beds for volunteers, turned the church multi-purpose room into a dorm, and turned the library and classrooms into sleeping quarters as well. They provide cooking facilities, showers, and a welcome to all. Through their members, the efforts to restore their neighbors' homes is coordinated,and teams volunteers are sent out to homes in various states of repair.
Four hours after falling asleep in their sleeping bags, the volunteers from Arvada Presbyterian were back up again to work on homes. Half the team left for the home of
Michelle and
Brian and their four children. Michelle and Brian had managed to take a few possessions with them in the 36 hours leading up to their house being claimed by the flood. Water filled their finished basement and rose three feet up the walls of the home. Since the flood, they've found a place to rent, continue to work their regular jobs, and spend every other moment working on their home.Outside the home was a pile of debris. Along their street were other piles, some to four feet high.
Other homes were worse off than Michelle's and Brian's. Throughout the flood area, piles of debris are everywhere at the curb. Waiting for the city to remove it. That task alone is daunting. Cedar Rapids opened a new landfill immediately after the flood. It would hold 20 years of the city's refuse. The city filled it with rubble from flooded homes in two weeks.The neighbor's home across the street was an eery skeleton of framing timbers and a roof. Nothing else. Some homes looked far less damaged, but still bore the city's "Limited Access" sign. These houses, like the house the volunteers were entering, were not to be occupied, but could be entered for repair. Would any of these families be home for Christmas?
The volunteers took a quick look at what lay ahead, and began to measure and cut drywall. Soon, all of the bedrooms and living room were finished. Buckets of drywall "mud" were pulled out and the necessary task of filling in gaps and screw holes began. They worked throughout the day, taking a short lunch from sacks assembled back at the church. Outside, the rain continued to fall. Inside, no heat or lights were available, as the furnace and power had yet to be connected.
The other group of volunteers from Arvada had similar stories. They installed insulation, installed lock sets, and carried heavy loads of drywall sheets inside
Ramona's devastated home. They saw a disaster all around them. Some of the homes they saw were tagged for demolition. These homes would likely never be rebuilt in this flood zone. But everywhere, maybe because of the continue turn of volunteers, the homeowners did not complain.
Shirley's two-story home was close enough have several homes nearby, condemn due to the heavy damage. But somehow, a house built nearly 100 years ago, stood up to a 500-year flood. Thanks to a steady stream of volunteers from places like Illinois, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania, she and her daughter and granddaughter should be able to celebrate a true, Thanksgiving in their home.
In Ramona's home, the flood waters had risen so high as to require a complete gutting of the interior. The 96-year-old home had been built from 2x4 framing, and in order to satisfy the safety concerns of the inspectors, had to reinforce much of the existing walls and ceiling. The Arvada volunteers worked all day to install fiberglass insulation in the 9-foot walls. Ramona was clearly happy,and excited, to feel the warmth and strength return to her home. The last touch of the volunteers was to install locks on the front and back doors and turn the key over to Ramona. Maybe "home for Christmas" would happen after all. Sunday morning, the volunteers rose to pack up their sleeping bags and tools, and load up the vans.
They would make another 14-hour drive, returning home to Arvada, tired but satisfied with their efforts. Along the way, they reflected on all the help they had received: Patricia Littman for not letting this disaster be forgotten; Arvada Presbyterian Church and especially the Families With Purpose for their supporting dollars and food; Christ's Church Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids for their leadership in coordinating volunteers; and the people of Cedar Rapids for their courage and determination.
The volunteers from Arvada were
Kathy Stoner-Lasala,
Frank Lasala,
Jean and
Ellis Barker,
Roy Poole,
Helmut and
Bryan Fritz,
Karen and
Krista Baer,
Mike Littman, Patricia Littman and
Elaine Cumley. In the group you'll find all kinds of people from a lawyer to a doctor; from a student to a retiree; and from an airline pilot to a construction contractor. Thanks to all for making sure the ongoing Cedar Rapids disaster is not forgotten.
by Roy Poole
Note: Seated person in photo is Patricia Littman. Additional digital photos of volunteers, bunks, and homes are available.