With Thanks...As winter creeps in on Iowa, and cold weather tamps down most of our flood recovery, and as Thanksgiving approaches we have an opportunity to reflect on blessings, large and small, and give to thanks...so, on behalf of the many Iowans you all have helped with gifts of money, flood buckets, cleaning materials, blankets, pampers, wheel barrows, and much, much, more, and those who were able to travel to Iowa and help with mucking out, yard clean-up, and rehabbing efforts, for your ongoing prayers and for your emails and phone calls of concern and offers to help, I thank you and give God thanks for you. There are also many who are not known to us, or at least me, who helped with gifts of money sent directly to Episcopal Relief and Development.
I am personally thankful for the wonderful, dedicated, hard working folks who coordinate flood relief and recovery in their local community and out of local parish churches. Folks like: Lisa Butler and Paul Feussel (Cedar Rapids), Maureen Doherty (Waverly and Cedar Falls), Liane Nichols (Cedar Falls) Katharine Nicholson and Anne Tanner (Iowa City/Coralville), Cathy Bascom (Des Moines) and Cathy Benkin (Louisa and Des Moines Counties). I am also thankful for the help and support of Abagail Nelson and her staff at Episcopal Relief and Development, and special thanks too, to all our friends from the Diocese of Louisiana: Nell Bolton who has been a wise counsel to me, and Connie Uddo, Pete Nunnally, and Katie Mears who came to Iowa and helped us jump start our work and ministry, and of course Bishop Alan Scarfe and the staff here in the Diocese of Iowa and all the parishes and congregations that responded to the "All Hands" weekends in July and who have supported this ministry with their donations and their presence.
Stories...There are so many stories I could tell from these past few months...and each of our local volunteer coordinators can tell you many, many more...I wish space would allow us to share these stories in full and how your generosity has touched so many lives...
Like Rusty in Waverly, Iowa...who not only lost his home, but has had to jump through hoop after governmental (local and federal) hoop, who has lost his job and is being threatened with foreclosure, but still he gives of himself to help others in need. And I wonder how many times his story is repeated around Iowa?
Or, like the Wilsons from Gulfport, IL who just these past few weeks or so have just started 'mucking out' after literally running from impending doom in mid-June! And yet, though they have lost just about everything they owned, are able to look around and consider themselves lucky since others lost much more.
Or, like Jim and Phyllis in Cedar Falls, who though facing many obstacles, like the loss of their small business, a motel converted into studio apartments catering to low income folks, and their own home's flood damage, are slowly rebuilding the motel so that their displaced residents can return 'home.' There is very little financial help for this family from FEMA or the state.
Unmet Needs...And then there are the stories of those who come under the heading of 'unmet needs,' hundreds of folks who lost their homes, jobs or businesses because of the flooding but don't qualify for government assistance because they were renters, or whose financial situation is such that they don't qualify for SBA or other loans...at one time this Fall these 'unmet needs' totaled somewhere around $18 million and its probably even more now.
In the days ahead...Just this week a Cedar Rapids city official estimated that losses in Linn County (Cedar Rapids) alone are in the billions. I was stunned, but if we focus on such a large picture we can become discouraged very quickly. So we are doing what we can as we can on a scale we feel will be most helpful...our future plans are:
1. The Shady Rest Motel...we are making the rehabbing of the Shady Rest Motel (see attachment) a special project...here we can focus some resources (time and material) to help the owners but also bring home those who were displaced...
2. The Episcopal Tool Chest...we are putting together a tool trailer that volunteers who are helping with rehabbing can use next spring and summer...the trailer will have power tools, safety equipment, hammers, and other rebuilding tools and supplies, the trailer will be light enough so that most vehicles with a hitch can tow it to a work site...when we're done with it, we'll be happy to share it with others...
3. Financial support for local Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs)...we are using some of our funds to help local groups plan and execute their own recovery efforts...
4. "Helping Hands and Hearts" - our plan for a work week in Galveston, Texas assisting in Hurricane Ike recovery, scheduled for mid February 2009 (leaving Iowa around 11 Feb and returning at the end of the following week)...I have been in touch with Maggie Immler in Galveston and we're on her calendar, so look for more information in the next few weeks...
There are other things we are doing as well, like three congregations in the flooded areas preparing to offer their space for volunteer 'dormitories,' we are also now in the process of accepting volunteer offers of help for the Spring and Summer.
And so we keep at it, whittling away in any way we can, attempting to bring hope and to rebuild lives one dollar, one nail, one panel of sheet rock at a time. Your past help and interest is greatly appreciated. Any thing you can do in the days ahead will be gratefully received.
Again, on behalf of Iowans and the Diocese of Iowa, our thanks for all your support. May each of you and those you love have a blessed Thanksgiving and a Holy Advent.
Blessings,
Pat Genereux, Coordinator
The Diocese of Iowa Office of Disaster Relief and Recovery
and Episcopal Relief and Development: Midwest Flood Relief
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
FLOOD UPDATE...40 DAYS OUT
This is my first post for awhile. Lots of personal things plus doing flood coordinating and traveling and meeting with folks and spending time with Abigail Nelson from ERD (Episcopal Relief and Development) have been enough. So taking the advice of others, like Abigail, who do this work, you have to know when to "hold 'em and when to fold 'em." Everyone involved in disaster relief needs to pay attention to a kind of 'creeping stress,' that is, the kind of stress that occurs almost unawares as we do the good work we're doing and not paying attention to what may be happening to us physically, spiritually and emotionally.
At any rate...
It’s hard to believe that its been over six weeks since the first reports of massive flooding in Iowa. After those first emails from Wendy Abrahamson, then Maureen Doherty, others poured in as fast as the waters breached levees and begin destroying homes and businesses. From Waverly to Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, from Iowa City and Coralville to Oakville, Burlington and points south the lives of thousands of Iowans were plunged into the nightmare and chaos that some have been calling Iowa’s “Katrina.”
Out of this chaos rose a different kind of flood: a flood of fellow Iowans stepping up to help one another in those first hours and days of the devastation; a flood of phone calls from around the Episcopal Church with of help in the form of gifts of money and the presence volunteers. Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) stepped in with an initial grant for flood victims and the folks from Louisiana called and offered their assistance in the persons of Katie Mears (an native Iowan working for the Diocese of Louisiana, rebuilding homes) and Peter Nunnerly, another staff person from Louisiana as well as any advice we wished to tap into.
Bishop Alan asked me to help with the coordination of flood relief efforts, especially from the many Episcopal volunteers from outside the Diocese and to work with ERD in continuing funding efforts. The Bishop asked the local coordinators to gather with Katie Mears, which we did at the end of June, in order to look at how we could work together and begin planning “All Hands” work days; the first of which was held on the Fourth of July weekend in Cedar Rapids. Others have been held in Cedar Falls/Waterloo area and just this past weekend in Des Moines and Iowa City. For information on the newly recreated Diocese of Iowa Office for Disaster Relief go to http://www.iowaepiscopal.org/ and under the flood banner click on: Flood Relief and Recovery Information.
The waters may have receded in most places but the needs of flood victims have not. However, to the surprise of many that is not universally true. Across the Mississippi from Burlington, what’s left of the village of Gulfport is still standing in water, but it is hoped that in the next week or so homeowners can began to go back to assess the damage. In other places, some families are still mucking out flood debris, removing damaged household items, salvaging what they can, or tearing out walls, duct work, and wiring while others are hoping to begin rehabbing. The hardest hit will probably not get any rebuilding started before the snow flies. In fact despite promises made by State and Federal agencies some forms of assistance, especially funding, may not happen as fast and as much as hoped for. I heard many groans of dismay at the news that Congress will not be taking up the issue of federal assistance for Iowa until after the summer recess.
Today’s (Aug 3) Des Moines Register reported on the story of Cedar Rapids resident, Patricia Jordan and her daughter. Patricia, who is also blind, lost her rented home to the flood waters. Patricia and her daughter may end up in a homeless shelter. Patricia, the Register reports, is going to have lots of company in her plight as the destruction of inexpensive housing in places like Cedar Rapids will be gone. The present state of the economy is going to make life even more difficult for these folks and those who lost jobs as a result of the flooding. The aid they receive will be minimal to nothing. Our sisters and brothers in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast know exactly what this means.
There is still a lot more to do. We will continue to keep you posted. Funds as well as helping hands are still very much needed. For information on making a donation http://www.iowaepiscopal.org/ and under the flood banner click on: Donations for Iowa Flood relief.
If you want to help by volunteering please contact volunteer coordinators (The Reverends Betsy Lee and Susanne Watson Epting) at: iafloodvolunteer@yahoo.com, and they will put you in touch with one of the local coordinators.
The Diocesan web page, http://www.iowaepiscopal.org/, will lead you too more information and the latest news. We are working hard to keep everything updated and current.
Thank you all who have given of your time and treasure to help relieve the distress of those whose lives have been overcome by wind and water. Your grace-filled ministry and work offers hope and comfort to those in need.
At any rate...
It’s hard to believe that its been over six weeks since the first reports of massive flooding in Iowa. After those first emails from Wendy Abrahamson, then Maureen Doherty, others poured in as fast as the waters breached levees and begin destroying homes and businesses. From Waverly to Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, from Iowa City and Coralville to Oakville, Burlington and points south the lives of thousands of Iowans were plunged into the nightmare and chaos that some have been calling Iowa’s “Katrina.”
Out of this chaos rose a different kind of flood: a flood of fellow Iowans stepping up to help one another in those first hours and days of the devastation; a flood of phone calls from around the Episcopal Church with of help in the form of gifts of money and the presence volunteers. Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) stepped in with an initial grant for flood victims and the folks from Louisiana called and offered their assistance in the persons of Katie Mears (an native Iowan working for the Diocese of Louisiana, rebuilding homes) and Peter Nunnerly, another staff person from Louisiana as well as any advice we wished to tap into.
Bishop Alan asked me to help with the coordination of flood relief efforts, especially from the many Episcopal volunteers from outside the Diocese and to work with ERD in continuing funding efforts. The Bishop asked the local coordinators to gather with Katie Mears, which we did at the end of June, in order to look at how we could work together and begin planning “All Hands” work days; the first of which was held on the Fourth of July weekend in Cedar Rapids. Others have been held in Cedar Falls/Waterloo area and just this past weekend in Des Moines and Iowa City. For information on the newly recreated Diocese of Iowa Office for Disaster Relief go to http://www.iowaepiscopal.org/ and under the flood banner click on: Flood Relief and Recovery Information.
The waters may have receded in most places but the needs of flood victims have not. However, to the surprise of many that is not universally true. Across the Mississippi from Burlington, what’s left of the village of Gulfport is still standing in water, but it is hoped that in the next week or so homeowners can began to go back to assess the damage. In other places, some families are still mucking out flood debris, removing damaged household items, salvaging what they can, or tearing out walls, duct work, and wiring while others are hoping to begin rehabbing. The hardest hit will probably not get any rebuilding started before the snow flies. In fact despite promises made by State and Federal agencies some forms of assistance, especially funding, may not happen as fast and as much as hoped for. I heard many groans of dismay at the news that Congress will not be taking up the issue of federal assistance for Iowa until after the summer recess.
Today’s (Aug 3) Des Moines Register reported on the story of Cedar Rapids resident, Patricia Jordan and her daughter. Patricia, who is also blind, lost her rented home to the flood waters. Patricia and her daughter may end up in a homeless shelter. Patricia, the Register reports, is going to have lots of company in her plight as the destruction of inexpensive housing in places like Cedar Rapids will be gone. The present state of the economy is going to make life even more difficult for these folks and those who lost jobs as a result of the flooding. The aid they receive will be minimal to nothing. Our sisters and brothers in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast know exactly what this means.
There is still a lot more to do. We will continue to keep you posted. Funds as well as helping hands are still very much needed. For information on making a donation http://www.iowaepiscopal.org/ and under the flood banner click on: Donations for Iowa Flood relief.
If you want to help by volunteering please contact volunteer coordinators (The Reverends Betsy Lee and Susanne Watson Epting) at: iafloodvolunteer@yahoo.com, and they will put you in touch with one of the local coordinators.
The Diocesan web page, http://www.iowaepiscopal.org/, will lead you too more information and the latest news. We are working hard to keep everything updated and current.
Thank you all who have given of your time and treasure to help relieve the distress of those whose lives have been overcome by wind and water. Your grace-filled ministry and work offers hope and comfort to those in need.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
WHAT TO BRING FOR CLEANING UP...
1. Wheel barrows if you can...and if you can leave them that would be super! Solid tires are best...flats take time to repair!
2. Shovels (long handled)! If you can leave some that would help too
3. Leather or heavy duty gloves
2. Shovels (long handled)! If you can leave some that would help too
3. Leather or heavy duty gloves
Monday, June 30, 2008
from Pastor Sheryl Campbell, St Paul's, UMC, Waterloo
June 27, 2008 Waterloo, IA
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ---
First of all, I will tell you that we could use some help in our area. Like everyone else, we really hate to ask—there are so many great needs everywhere in our world. And our little ol' floods actually are small compared to some of the great disasters in our world, even in recent months…
Yet, this is a GREAT opportunity, if you feel called to pray for, share with, or partner any efforts in this area. If you have a prayer team of 2 or 22, a mission team, some dollars to share, we are being shown hour by hour one or ten or one hundred more persons who are experiencing great loss and grief along with many of their family and neighbors and friends….
A quick punchline is that our small-but-loving church in the north part of Waterloo, IA is hosting and helping to dispatch mission teams from UMC churches, UCC churches, ANY churches, individuals, groups from Habitat for Humanity, Vista/Americorps, and anyone the Lord sends to minister to folks not only in our city, but also in smaller towns and rural places within quite a radius of here. I am someone who is simply trying to enhance the wonderful working-together and praying-together of so many terrific folks. I also seek to be a support to my own parishioners and everyone else God is putting in my path—as well as encourage and communicate with others who may wish to do the same.
A great big enthusiastic thanks to Pastor Terry Plocher of Reinbeck, IA (30 miles away) who already after a brief communication with UMC Volunteers In Mission has been here in person and has brought several in his church to "BE the church" TO affected people. One small example of many things they are doing in Christ's name--they have helped one homeowner carry out very heavy water-soaked papers, ruined furniture and multitudinous personal items, have helped to finish pumping and cleaning a basement, have now stripped and hauled out sheet rock, all while being of great comfort and cheer to a very stunned lady who can't understand why she can't really move—after all, she has only been "inconvenienced…" They (Reinbeck) have been here twice—and promise more in the future. Pastor Terry even took the time to visit three of my folks in the nursing homes this week (I have about 30!), to remind them of the Lord's love—and that Pastor Sheryl and the church have them in our thoughts and prayers but are just a little busy right now.
Pastor Terry and at least one of his former churches were impacted by massive flooding and disaster 15 years ago. He now is equipped to help with keen insight to the chaos and need. I was serving a Lutheran church part-time in Grand Forks ND/East Grand Forks MN when 80-90% of that combined community went under water as the build up from blizzards melted in April, 1997. I then was able to stay with them full-time for a year of their disaster, cleanup and rebuilding process. Now we learn from them. Another colleague from Waterloo's Eastside Ministerial Alliance, Martha Frazier, helped and served in Katrina for years and now helps ministers to minister in Waterloo. May we all continue to learn from one another, as we unite to build one another up in the Lord.
Also a GREAT thanks to so many others who have called, who have scheduled, who are praying and discerning what to do. I so much want to hug you all! Our churches and many other agencies are working together QUICKLY to share across every denominational line to host and dispatch any one who would like to come and help. We were so happy to receive a visit on Monday, June 23 from Bishop Gregory Palmer of the Iowa Conference United Methodist Church, along with Bishop Alan Scarfe of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. They came with people from UMC Iowa Conference Disaster Relief, UMC Iowa Volunteers In Mission, UMC news and publications, and UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief). They listened to us carefully, though they had so MANY other people in the state to listen to as well that day! The Bishops will be happy to know that we at St. Paul's UMC already are partnering with St. Luke's Episcopal Church to host short term mission work groups coming in this summer. I am kind of assuming this will lead to more…
You—or someone you know—can help church-to-church, neighbor-to-neighbor, or in many aspects of the cities, Red Cross, United Way, and more. Many of you already are—thank you! Large experienced early-disaster-response Christian agencies such as World Hope and Samaritan's Purse have set up and can equip-train-dispatch individuals or small/large working groups immediately to help those on the lists. (World Hope has helped several of our parishioners already!!) More are coming. I hear MUCH praise from those who have worked Katrina and other disasters for years about what United Methodist (UMCOR) and Presbyterians and Lutherans and others do in ongoing wondrous work and help for others—again, hand-in-hand with all the above-mentioned and more. I know they are at work in Iowa, preparing to do it again, and stay for the long haul. As far as now, you don't have to be from afar off to lend a hand—local residents who are not overwhelmed can help for a half-a-day or a day or more as they are able. Physical labor, friendship walking-with, or even helping an elderly person sterilize their flooded china or jewelry or other keepsake can be of great help and support. And pray.
I am writing from St. Paul's UMC in Waterloo Iowa. Anything I say here can apply to many many communities around us, most certainly and worse (?) Cedar Rapids, Coralville/Iowa City, and more to the south of us all. Towns such as New Hartford, Palo, Chelsea and others have widespread damage beyond our belief—AND all of the environs, of course. Crops and grazing lands have been ruined for the season. Other businesses are out-of-business or struggling to figure out what to do now. Our news media simply cannot cover it all adequately in order that we all should understand the extent of the damage and havoc for all… I will speak for my perspective of our immediate area, and you can simply project the same and more for areas north and east and south and west of us.
Waterloo/Cedar Falls area (we call it "Cedar Valley") and surrounding towns have experienced a greater "natural disaster" crisis than anyone ever can remember, with the incredible flooding that began June 9 and 10, and then kept continuing, and continuing. Waverly has been incredibly hit. Parkersburg, New Hartford, areas north of Dunkerton, and so many rural areas around still are stunned and many out of their homes since an incredible F-5 (really-really-big-and-destructive) tornado hit May 25 and took or greatly damaged many homes, churches, farms and other businesses. New Hartford then seems to have been much-covered by flood waters—I haven't even been there yet—but my friend who lost her sister-in-law (killed in the tornado)—and also suffered much wind damage personally and everyone else there she knows—told me yesterday that the green flood slime which came two weeks later is still in her home as she and her husband are living with their grown kids in another house for now. The pictures of New Hartford under water several days ago that I finally saw on news media last night were incredible.
My eyes are here in Waterloo where more have been affected than ever before—with floodwaters, storm sewer back-up, ground-water in basements, and more. No matter how large or small the water damage, the mold is here, which creates more problems of its own.
Sometimes this massive flood has taken, wrecked and twisted a whole home like one of my parishioners. Sometimes it has "simply" filled a home-including the main floor-with violent flood waters, leaving a stinky mess to clean up and incredible waiting, paperwork, more waiting, confusion and chaos—while the adults of the family need to still go to full time work every day and then deal with whatever else they can do after hours. Sometimes it is like another one of my parishioners who just had to wait for days and days for the water to quit coming in through the basement walls, inundating and ruining "only" the water heater, furnace, washer, dryer, everything stored there they had no time to get out. They feel much better now that they have removed 7000 pounds of soggy crud from their basement, have actually been power-washed and sanitized thanks to a Christian volunteer group, and now simply have to connect with overworked contractors with long waiting lists for all the rest and deplete the personal savings they had. They are so happy to have running water again after two weeks without. Hot water will come later. Their pets are still with them. SO fortunate compared to others! Did I mention they both are over 80? Their grown son has helped them constantly. He is worn out, too—though the flood never touched his house.
Another couple I know did not want to call any of the Christian or city or United Way agency help lines. After all, they only had an inch or two of water in their basement. But that is enough to completely soak a carpet, make dressers fall into pieces and render a precious cedar chest unusable, and mold up every piece of camping equipment, along with all their daughter's bedroom belongings, Christmas decorations and more. Fortunately, a Habitat for Humanity group already staying in our church made themselves available after their other work yesterday to come over and lift everything, including that horrid now-moldy carpet (it used to be red!), up out of the basement and to the curb. Across the street they could also watch the heavy-loading equipment driving and scooping up multiple building-high mounds of personal items and furniture that used to belong to everyone in the east-Waterloo neighborhood—last Saturday everyone who lived in the area was invited to dispose of it there—and the ones who had the energy and the strength did. My couple was a little behind—he has been out of work (self-employed) since a very difficult surgery 4 months ago, and she still limps from last year's hip-replacement surgery. They did enjoy sharing with the Habitat folks about the 17 years' worth of mission trips they used to go OUT on, around our country, shoulder-to-shoulder with friends from Methodist and Catholic churches—they called the group the "Metholics." Anyway, they now have had the energy to call a help line and get on a list. World Hope will take care of the next steps as soon as they can—and they are discipling the rest of us to help people like them and others in the future.
I found out two days ago that three predominantly Black churches were so flooded that they likely will never be in those buildings again. I know many others were greatly damaged. Parsonages have been damaged—including those of our own local UMC brothers and sisters and more I don't yet know of. Others, like ours, were not touched—which enables us to offer our worship space to share (we only have one Sunday service at 9am), and to pray for others, and to host work groups. We also are continuing with our brand new 1st & 3rd Wednesday Evening worship—that is bringing some new people in the doors—some who "don't do" Sunday mornings… we'll see.
I don't know what else to say—I'll share what I can as I can, but sitting in front of a computer to write is a luxury I used to do for an hour a day, and now simply try to find a few minutes here-and-there in order to catch up.
There has been incredibly low numbers as far as loss-of-life directly due to these hits—yet we all know that to each family that has lost THEIR loved one, the disaster is beyond hurt—as with everyone suffering at any time whether or not it makes the headlines. Keep praying for those now facing post-disaster injuries, depression and other mental afflictions, reactions from air tainted with mold or carbon monoxide, and more. We have to be so careful, and so caring, now and on into the future.
Let the Holy Spirit remind us all to be so careful and caring, in these situations, and the others everywhere day by day. May we all be ready to let our lights shine in the name of Christ, to help lighten another's darkness or share the load, to offer our time and worship and prayer and praise to the God who made us and loves us, including taking that Sabbath time to allow God to restore peace to our souls.
Please pass this on to whomever you think should read it. I don't know how to reach you all, and even those I could look up in directories of various kinds, I just don't have time right now. Bless you all.
In Christ, "Pastor Sheryl" Eash Campbell
Serving at St. Paul's United Methodist Church
207 West Louise Street Waterloo, IA 50703
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ---
First of all, I will tell you that we could use some help in our area. Like everyone else, we really hate to ask—there are so many great needs everywhere in our world. And our little ol' floods actually are small compared to some of the great disasters in our world, even in recent months…
Yet, this is a GREAT opportunity, if you feel called to pray for, share with, or partner any efforts in this area. If you have a prayer team of 2 or 22, a mission team, some dollars to share, we are being shown hour by hour one or ten or one hundred more persons who are experiencing great loss and grief along with many of their family and neighbors and friends….
A quick punchline is that our small-but-loving church in the north part of Waterloo, IA is hosting and helping to dispatch mission teams from UMC churches, UCC churches, ANY churches, individuals, groups from Habitat for Humanity, Vista/Americorps, and anyone the Lord sends to minister to folks not only in our city, but also in smaller towns and rural places within quite a radius of here. I am someone who is simply trying to enhance the wonderful working-together and praying-together of so many terrific folks. I also seek to be a support to my own parishioners and everyone else God is putting in my path—as well as encourage and communicate with others who may wish to do the same.
A great big enthusiastic thanks to Pastor Terry Plocher of Reinbeck, IA (30 miles away) who already after a brief communication with UMC Volunteers In Mission has been here in person and has brought several in his church to "BE the church" TO affected people. One small example of many things they are doing in Christ's name--they have helped one homeowner carry out very heavy water-soaked papers, ruined furniture and multitudinous personal items, have helped to finish pumping and cleaning a basement, have now stripped and hauled out sheet rock, all while being of great comfort and cheer to a very stunned lady who can't understand why she can't really move—after all, she has only been "inconvenienced…" They (Reinbeck) have been here twice—and promise more in the future. Pastor Terry even took the time to visit three of my folks in the nursing homes this week (I have about 30!), to remind them of the Lord's love—and that Pastor Sheryl and the church have them in our thoughts and prayers but are just a little busy right now.
Pastor Terry and at least one of his former churches were impacted by massive flooding and disaster 15 years ago. He now is equipped to help with keen insight to the chaos and need. I was serving a Lutheran church part-time in Grand Forks ND/East Grand Forks MN when 80-90% of that combined community went under water as the build up from blizzards melted in April, 1997. I then was able to stay with them full-time for a year of their disaster, cleanup and rebuilding process. Now we learn from them. Another colleague from Waterloo's Eastside Ministerial Alliance, Martha Frazier, helped and served in Katrina for years and now helps ministers to minister in Waterloo. May we all continue to learn from one another, as we unite to build one another up in the Lord.
Also a GREAT thanks to so many others who have called, who have scheduled, who are praying and discerning what to do. I so much want to hug you all! Our churches and many other agencies are working together QUICKLY to share across every denominational line to host and dispatch any one who would like to come and help. We were so happy to receive a visit on Monday, June 23 from Bishop Gregory Palmer of the Iowa Conference United Methodist Church, along with Bishop Alan Scarfe of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. They came with people from UMC Iowa Conference Disaster Relief, UMC Iowa Volunteers In Mission, UMC news and publications, and UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief). They listened to us carefully, though they had so MANY other people in the state to listen to as well that day! The Bishops will be happy to know that we at St. Paul's UMC already are partnering with St. Luke's Episcopal Church to host short term mission work groups coming in this summer. I am kind of assuming this will lead to more…
You—or someone you know—can help church-to-church, neighbor-to-neighbor, or in many aspects of the cities, Red Cross, United Way, and more. Many of you already are—thank you! Large experienced early-disaster-response Christian agencies such as World Hope and Samaritan's Purse have set up and can equip-train-dispatch individuals or small/large working groups immediately to help those on the lists. (World Hope has helped several of our parishioners already!!) More are coming. I hear MUCH praise from those who have worked Katrina and other disasters for years about what United Methodist (UMCOR) and Presbyterians and Lutherans and others do in ongoing wondrous work and help for others—again, hand-in-hand with all the above-mentioned and more. I know they are at work in Iowa, preparing to do it again, and stay for the long haul. As far as now, you don't have to be from afar off to lend a hand—local residents who are not overwhelmed can help for a half-a-day or a day or more as they are able. Physical labor, friendship walking-with, or even helping an elderly person sterilize their flooded china or jewelry or other keepsake can be of great help and support. And pray.
I am writing from St. Paul's UMC in Waterloo Iowa. Anything I say here can apply to many many communities around us, most certainly and worse (?) Cedar Rapids, Coralville/Iowa City, and more to the south of us all. Towns such as New Hartford, Palo, Chelsea and others have widespread damage beyond our belief—AND all of the environs, of course. Crops and grazing lands have been ruined for the season. Other businesses are out-of-business or struggling to figure out what to do now. Our news media simply cannot cover it all adequately in order that we all should understand the extent of the damage and havoc for all… I will speak for my perspective of our immediate area, and you can simply project the same and more for areas north and east and south and west of us.
Waterloo/Cedar Falls area (we call it "Cedar Valley") and surrounding towns have experienced a greater "natural disaster" crisis than anyone ever can remember, with the incredible flooding that began June 9 and 10, and then kept continuing, and continuing. Waverly has been incredibly hit. Parkersburg, New Hartford, areas north of Dunkerton, and so many rural areas around still are stunned and many out of their homes since an incredible F-5 (really-really-big-and-destructive) tornado hit May 25 and took or greatly damaged many homes, churches, farms and other businesses. New Hartford then seems to have been much-covered by flood waters—I haven't even been there yet—but my friend who lost her sister-in-law (killed in the tornado)—and also suffered much wind damage personally and everyone else there she knows—told me yesterday that the green flood slime which came two weeks later is still in her home as she and her husband are living with their grown kids in another house for now. The pictures of New Hartford under water several days ago that I finally saw on news media last night were incredible.
My eyes are here in Waterloo where more have been affected than ever before—with floodwaters, storm sewer back-up, ground-water in basements, and more. No matter how large or small the water damage, the mold is here, which creates more problems of its own.
Sometimes this massive flood has taken, wrecked and twisted a whole home like one of my parishioners. Sometimes it has "simply" filled a home-including the main floor-with violent flood waters, leaving a stinky mess to clean up and incredible waiting, paperwork, more waiting, confusion and chaos—while the adults of the family need to still go to full time work every day and then deal with whatever else they can do after hours. Sometimes it is like another one of my parishioners who just had to wait for days and days for the water to quit coming in through the basement walls, inundating and ruining "only" the water heater, furnace, washer, dryer, everything stored there they had no time to get out. They feel much better now that they have removed 7000 pounds of soggy crud from their basement, have actually been power-washed and sanitized thanks to a Christian volunteer group, and now simply have to connect with overworked contractors with long waiting lists for all the rest and deplete the personal savings they had. They are so happy to have running water again after two weeks without. Hot water will come later. Their pets are still with them. SO fortunate compared to others! Did I mention they both are over 80? Their grown son has helped them constantly. He is worn out, too—though the flood never touched his house.
Another couple I know did not want to call any of the Christian or city or United Way agency help lines. After all, they only had an inch or two of water in their basement. But that is enough to completely soak a carpet, make dressers fall into pieces and render a precious cedar chest unusable, and mold up every piece of camping equipment, along with all their daughter's bedroom belongings, Christmas decorations and more. Fortunately, a Habitat for Humanity group already staying in our church made themselves available after their other work yesterday to come over and lift everything, including that horrid now-moldy carpet (it used to be red!), up out of the basement and to the curb. Across the street they could also watch the heavy-loading equipment driving and scooping up multiple building-high mounds of personal items and furniture that used to belong to everyone in the east-Waterloo neighborhood—last Saturday everyone who lived in the area was invited to dispose of it there—and the ones who had the energy and the strength did. My couple was a little behind—he has been out of work (self-employed) since a very difficult surgery 4 months ago, and she still limps from last year's hip-replacement surgery. They did enjoy sharing with the Habitat folks about the 17 years' worth of mission trips they used to go OUT on, around our country, shoulder-to-shoulder with friends from Methodist and Catholic churches—they called the group the "Metholics." Anyway, they now have had the energy to call a help line and get on a list. World Hope will take care of the next steps as soon as they can—and they are discipling the rest of us to help people like them and others in the future.
I found out two days ago that three predominantly Black churches were so flooded that they likely will never be in those buildings again. I know many others were greatly damaged. Parsonages have been damaged—including those of our own local UMC brothers and sisters and more I don't yet know of. Others, like ours, were not touched—which enables us to offer our worship space to share (we only have one Sunday service at 9am), and to pray for others, and to host work groups. We also are continuing with our brand new 1st & 3rd Wednesday Evening worship—that is bringing some new people in the doors—some who "don't do" Sunday mornings… we'll see.
I don't know what else to say—I'll share what I can as I can, but sitting in front of a computer to write is a luxury I used to do for an hour a day, and now simply try to find a few minutes here-and-there in order to catch up.
There has been incredibly low numbers as far as loss-of-life directly due to these hits—yet we all know that to each family that has lost THEIR loved one, the disaster is beyond hurt—as with everyone suffering at any time whether or not it makes the headlines. Keep praying for those now facing post-disaster injuries, depression and other mental afflictions, reactions from air tainted with mold or carbon monoxide, and more. We have to be so careful, and so caring, now and on into the future.
Let the Holy Spirit remind us all to be so careful and caring, in these situations, and the others everywhere day by day. May we all be ready to let our lights shine in the name of Christ, to help lighten another's darkness or share the load, to offer our time and worship and prayer and praise to the God who made us and loves us, including taking that Sabbath time to allow God to restore peace to our souls.
Please pass this on to whomever you think should read it. I don't know how to reach you all, and even those I could look up in directories of various kinds, I just don't have time right now. Bless you all.
In Christ, "Pastor Sheryl" Eash Campbell
Serving at St. Paul's United Methodist Church
207 West Louise Street Waterloo, IA 50703
Saturday, June 28, 2008
From Bishop Scarfe, 6/26/08
On Tuesday I got my first sight of the devastation that has occurred in Cedar Rapids. Thanks to Lisa Butler, the tireless parish life coordinator of Christ Church Cedar Rapids, I was able to visit one of their eleven families who have incurred severe damage to their home. They are one of 98% of the household in Palo, outside Cedar Rapids, where the river first overflowed its banks. Their houses look fine in the now blue skies above, but on the doors are the telltale signs of contamination and instability. The signs mark each home according to their degree of habitability. Most read yellow which means uninhabitable until further notice. Families come each day from other locations to do what they can in clean up and recovery. One of these families from Christ Church is teamed up with parishioners who have “adopted” them for however long it takes to get them back in their home.
I met later with the faith community in Cedar Rapids as we shared a prayer service together – an interfaith service where the hug and embrace of the Muslim imam with the Jewish rabbi brought as much of an ovation as any words of reflection and prayers of hope that night. A subtext of a deeper hope was being lived out even in the midst of all of the suffering. This is a community which I believe will show the way forward in coordinating efforts and bringing people closer together by mutually sharing resources and personnel. Our Episcopal Churches both now house local agencies – one for the disabled and another for the elderly – which had been flooded out in the downtown area.
Home after home along the downtown streets have the “flood crud” piled high on the curb. It is hard to imagine how high the waters came, and how whole churches were covered. Thirty one religious buildings were damaged some beyond repair.
I took an amateur video of my travels and will repeat it today as I go through Iowa City and back to Cedar Rapids on the way to Mitch Smith’s celebration of new ministry in Waterloo. As I write the clouds are indicating that Mother Nature is not finished with us yet. I hope through Catherine Quehl Engel to meet with workers who have been serving under horrendous conditions.
I will see some of you in Grinnell.
I met later with the faith community in Cedar Rapids as we shared a prayer service together – an interfaith service where the hug and embrace of the Muslim imam with the Jewish rabbi brought as much of an ovation as any words of reflection and prayers of hope that night. A subtext of a deeper hope was being lived out even in the midst of all of the suffering. This is a community which I believe will show the way forward in coordinating efforts and bringing people closer together by mutually sharing resources and personnel. Our Episcopal Churches both now house local agencies – one for the disabled and another for the elderly – which had been flooded out in the downtown area.
Home after home along the downtown streets have the “flood crud” piled high on the curb. It is hard to imagine how high the waters came, and how whole churches were covered. Thirty one religious buildings were damaged some beyond repair.
I took an amateur video of my travels and will repeat it today as I go through Iowa City and back to Cedar Rapids on the way to Mitch Smith’s celebration of new ministry in Waterloo. As I write the clouds are indicating that Mother Nature is not finished with us yet. I hope through Catherine Quehl Engel to meet with workers who have been serving under horrendous conditions.
I will see some of you in Grinnell.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
UPDATE
It was a busy weekend so I haven't posted anything new. I continue to receive calls from volunteers and am just getting folks connected. Finding the local coordinators hasn't been easy but I now have three contacts.
We have enlisted the aid of The Rev'd Betsy Lee to help with the volunteer coordination, that is getting volunteers connected with those in need.
We have asked The Rev'd Susanne Watson to help as well.
We are also hoping to get a web page, www.iowawaters.org up and running in the next day or so. Hopefully this will be more user friendly. We will keep you posted.
The Mid-American Baptist Churches have a site you can go to for information from their judicatory. See the denominational links to get to it, or click here:
http://sites.google.com/a/mid-abc.org/flooding/Home.
Thanks again for all who are volunteering and for all the offers of help.
Blessings,
Pat Genereux
We have enlisted the aid of The Rev'd Betsy Lee to help with the volunteer coordination, that is getting volunteers connected with those in need.
We have asked The Rev'd Susanne Watson to help as well.
We are also hoping to get a web page, www.iowawaters.org up and running in the next day or so. Hopefully this will be more user friendly. We will keep you posted.
The Mid-American Baptist Churches have a site you can go to for information from their judicatory. See the denominational links to get to it, or click here:
http://sites.google.com/a/mid-abc.org/flooding/Home.
Thanks again for all who are volunteering and for all the offers of help.
Blessings,
Pat Genereux
Friday, June 20, 2008
FOOD FOR FLOOD...FREE
Not sure how long the offer will last...but read below to find out more about this wonderful offer...
FROM CARL MANN, Spirit Lake, IA
Hello everyone, especially to those in the flooded river towns,
I have access to literally a ton of food to be distributed. This comes from the "Kids Against Hunger" program. Each bag contains 6 meals of a rice/soy base with dried vegetables, chicken flavoring, and vitamins/nutrients. This can be served as is or with meat or more vegetables added. One case has 36 bags equaling 216 meals/portions as packaged.
What I need to know is how many churches/towns are feeding people directly such as Waverly is doing or has food pantries that could use this food to give to those in need especially those who have been flooded out. If I can get this information from you, who are on the front lines, I could plan to make a road trip as early as next week to distribute this gift of food. Please indicate how many cases you could use, addresses as to where to deliver, and cell phone numbers for contact people. When I get the totals, I will apportion as fairly as I can, and will publish a delivery schedule.
Thanks in advance,
Carl+
Spirit Lake
Carl's email is: revrhino@myclearwave.net
FROM CARL MANN, Spirit Lake, IA
Hello everyone, especially to those in the flooded river towns,
I have access to literally a ton of food to be distributed. This comes from the "Kids Against Hunger" program. Each bag contains 6 meals of a rice/soy base with dried vegetables, chicken flavoring, and vitamins/nutrients. This can be served as is or with meat or more vegetables added. One case has 36 bags equaling 216 meals/portions as packaged.
What I need to know is how many churches/towns are feeding people directly such as Waverly is doing or has food pantries that could use this food to give to those in need especially those who have been flooded out. If I can get this information from you, who are on the front lines, I could plan to make a road trip as early as next week to distribute this gift of food. Please indicate how many cases you could use, addresses as to where to deliver, and cell phone numbers for contact people. When I get the totals, I will apportion as fairly as I can, and will publish a delivery schedule.
Thanks in advance,
Carl+
Spirit Lake
Carl's email is: revrhino@myclearwave.net
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
STRESS MANAGEMENT IN A CRISIS...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Don Damsteegt, Ph.D.
(319) 378-1199
Coping with natural disaster: Iowa Psychological Association offers tips to manage weather-related stress
Cedar Rapids, IA 6-16-08 – When natural disasters strike, people feel overwhelmed and helpless. The forces of nature can destroy homes, businesses and lives in an instant. Unexpected tornadoes and floods, such as we have recently suffered in Iowa, overwhelm our capacity to cope. When that happens, our natural response is to withdraw and become numb and depressed. The more helpless one feels, the greater the likelihood that psychological aftereffects of the trauma will continue. People may become disoriented, unable to relax and unable to decide on a course of action. They may have trouble sleeping and may have vivid nightmares in which they relive the tragedy. Other stress symptoms include loss of appetite, aches and pains, tearfulness, irritability, anger and fear. If these symptoms are severe enough the person may be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Even if the symptoms are less severe, a person’s ability to live normally is compromised.
When lives become unmanageable, many will use unhealthy ways to deal with stress, such as staying up late, mindlessly watching TV or surfing the net, eating, drinking or smoking excessively, and taking too many medications or illegal drugs. According to the American Psychological Association’s "2007 Stress in America" poll, many Americans choose unhealthy ways to cope with their stress. More than 40 percent said they overeat or eat unhealthy foods; 48 percent said they couldn’t sleep because of stress; and two-thirds of smokers said they smoke even more when stressed. But relying on harmful behaviors to alleviate stress contributes to physical and emotional health problems in the future.
Don Damsteegt, Public Education Committee chair of the The Iowa Psychological Association offers these strategies for managing stress:
Identify your stressors and make a plan. Take a look at your particular situation and what causes you stress. Write down specifically what is causing you stress. Putting things down on paper and helps you organize your mind and can reduce stress. Then make a list of action steps that can be taken. Prioritize your list and commit to doing the most important thing immediately.
Talk about your worries. Many are secretive about feelings or problems, especially when things aren’t going well, and this can lead to more stress. Open up to your partner, a trusted friend or family member about your concerns. Consider talking to a counselor or religious leader. Talking about feelings takes away some of the pain.
Recognize how you deal with stress. Comfort eating, smoking, drinking, gambling or withdrawing will not help solve problems. Pay attention to how you deal with it, and consider the extra damage that negative coping methods do to your health.
Substitute healthy for unhealthy ways to manage stress. Healthy stress-reducing activities usually have two components - stress reduction and problem solving. Many stress reducing activities are inexpensive and quick—take a short walk, meditate, pray, exercise or talk things out with friends or family. Anything which helps one disconnect from the problem is stress reducing. Sometimes a person needs to withdraw and grieve for a period of time. Problem solving, on the other hand, means facing the problem directly. Take action to actually change the things that cause you stress. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by disaster news on the television, turn it off. If you have suffered loss, begin to plan for replacing the loss. Start with a small problem. In most cases solving one problem will give you energy to tackle other problems. Focus on coping one day at a time and on changing one thing at a time.
Counselors, pastors and friends are available to help you talk things through. If you continue to be overwhelmed by stress or by the unhealthy behaviors you use to cope, you may want to talk with a psychologist who can help you address the factors behind your emotions. Psychologists are experts on dealing with stress and are trained to understand the connection between the mind and body, as well as the factors that promote behavior change. For more information on stress and mind/body health, visit www.apahelpcenter.org.
###
The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. APA’s membership includes more than 148,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.
Contact: Don Damsteegt, Ph.D.
(319) 378-1199
Coping with natural disaster: Iowa Psychological Association offers tips to manage weather-related stress
Cedar Rapids, IA 6-16-08 – When natural disasters strike, people feel overwhelmed and helpless. The forces of nature can destroy homes, businesses and lives in an instant. Unexpected tornadoes and floods, such as we have recently suffered in Iowa, overwhelm our capacity to cope. When that happens, our natural response is to withdraw and become numb and depressed. The more helpless one feels, the greater the likelihood that psychological aftereffects of the trauma will continue. People may become disoriented, unable to relax and unable to decide on a course of action. They may have trouble sleeping and may have vivid nightmares in which they relive the tragedy. Other stress symptoms include loss of appetite, aches and pains, tearfulness, irritability, anger and fear. If these symptoms are severe enough the person may be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Even if the symptoms are less severe, a person’s ability to live normally is compromised.
When lives become unmanageable, many will use unhealthy ways to deal with stress, such as staying up late, mindlessly watching TV or surfing the net, eating, drinking or smoking excessively, and taking too many medications or illegal drugs. According to the American Psychological Association’s "2007 Stress in America" poll, many Americans choose unhealthy ways to cope with their stress. More than 40 percent said they overeat or eat unhealthy foods; 48 percent said they couldn’t sleep because of stress; and two-thirds of smokers said they smoke even more when stressed. But relying on harmful behaviors to alleviate stress contributes to physical and emotional health problems in the future.
Don Damsteegt, Public Education Committee chair of the The Iowa Psychological Association offers these strategies for managing stress:
Identify your stressors and make a plan. Take a look at your particular situation and what causes you stress. Write down specifically what is causing you stress. Putting things down on paper and helps you organize your mind and can reduce stress. Then make a list of action steps that can be taken. Prioritize your list and commit to doing the most important thing immediately.
Talk about your worries. Many are secretive about feelings or problems, especially when things aren’t going well, and this can lead to more stress. Open up to your partner, a trusted friend or family member about your concerns. Consider talking to a counselor or religious leader. Talking about feelings takes away some of the pain.
Recognize how you deal with stress. Comfort eating, smoking, drinking, gambling or withdrawing will not help solve problems. Pay attention to how you deal with it, and consider the extra damage that negative coping methods do to your health.
Substitute healthy for unhealthy ways to manage stress. Healthy stress-reducing activities usually have two components - stress reduction and problem solving. Many stress reducing activities are inexpensive and quick—take a short walk, meditate, pray, exercise or talk things out with friends or family. Anything which helps one disconnect from the problem is stress reducing. Sometimes a person needs to withdraw and grieve for a period of time. Problem solving, on the other hand, means facing the problem directly. Take action to actually change the things that cause you stress. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by disaster news on the television, turn it off. If you have suffered loss, begin to plan for replacing the loss. Start with a small problem. In most cases solving one problem will give you energy to tackle other problems. Focus on coping one day at a time and on changing one thing at a time.
Counselors, pastors and friends are available to help you talk things through. If you continue to be overwhelmed by stress or by the unhealthy behaviors you use to cope, you may want to talk with a psychologist who can help you address the factors behind your emotions. Psychologists are experts on dealing with stress and are trained to understand the connection between the mind and body, as well as the factors that promote behavior change. For more information on stress and mind/body health, visit www.apahelpcenter.org.
###
The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. APA’s membership includes more than 148,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.
SAFE & HEALTHY VOLUNTEERING...
IF YOU ARE A WORKING ANYWHERE NEAR THE FLOOD WATERS, CLEANING, ETC.
1. MAKE SURE YOUR TETANUS SHOT IS UP TO DATE!
2. USE NIOSH Approved N95 FACE MASKS WITH EXHALATION VALVES. They are made by 3M and you should be able to get them at Lowe's, Menard's, Home Depot, ACE and other quality building/contractor supply stores.
3. WEAR long sleeve shirts (your local volunteer coordinator will advise you when you can wear short sleeves)
4. It will get hotter over the next two months...STAY HYDRATED...drink lots of water...pop doesn't do it!!! TAKE A BREAK WHEN YOU NEED IT...AND WORK SAFE...don't add to the work load by having someone taking you to the ER!
5. WEAR LONG PANTS, and HARD TOE BOOTS if you can, especially if you are doing demolition...
6. HEAD GEAR, even a HARD HAT is essential as well...
1. MAKE SURE YOUR TETANUS SHOT IS UP TO DATE!
2. USE NIOSH Approved N95 FACE MASKS WITH EXHALATION VALVES. They are made by 3M and you should be able to get them at Lowe's, Menard's, Home Depot, ACE and other quality building/contractor supply stores.
3. WEAR long sleeve shirts (your local volunteer coordinator will advise you when you can wear short sleeves)
4. It will get hotter over the next two months...STAY HYDRATED...drink lots of water...pop doesn't do it!!! TAKE A BREAK WHEN YOU NEED IT...AND WORK SAFE...don't add to the work load by having someone taking you to the ER!
5. WEAR LONG PANTS, and HARD TOE BOOTS if you can, especially if you are doing demolition...
6. HEAD GEAR, even a HARD HAT is essential as well...
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Burlington Update
As I walked next door to Christ Church this morning and looked out over the Mississippi, I found the peacefulness of the moment to be somewhat discomforting. From the north hill of Burlington and from a distance all looks well. It isn't till you get up close and personal that the enormity of the pending disaster looms before you like the monster 'Big Muddy' can be.
The bottoms (the strip of land between the levees and the hills) between Burlington and the village of Oakville are being evacuated as the levees are threatened and perhaps breached. Lots of rumors are floating around about the levees being breached, like river debris caught in the current of speculation, concern and perhaps no small amount of voyeurism.
In Burlington itself more businesses than homes are being threatened as flood waters in the downtown area are rising by the minute. That is of some comfort, but the loss or disruption of one's livelihood is just as devastating as losing one's home. One major community event has been curtailed which means huge losses to the local economy and the many vendors who rely on the summer fair season for their livelihood. Another is threatened today by more rain. It's what Maureen Doherty (Vicar of St Andrew's, Waverly) and I talked about last week, there are many layers to this disaster. It's not just the flood waters and its damage, there's what happens as a result added to what was going on even before the rains came.
So here is one of those stories. I received a call late yesterday afternoon from a Christ Church family who have been moving their belongings over the last two days all by themselves. They are an older couple (in their 60s) raising a couple of young granddaughters. I tried finding some others to help but at that late hour it wasn't going to happen. Sue and I got in Big Red (our name for our pickup) and went over there.
Cliff and Linda live across the river (Mississippi) on a small lake with a dozen or so other families. Lake Stevenson looks tranquil enough, but overruns its banks when the levees are breached, which is what is expected to happen and why they and all the others were told to evacuate.
Cliff and Linda both looked absolutely wiped out. The sheer physical labor and the emotional stress was taking its toll. We helped move one load of food and clothing and helped load a flatbed trailer with other belongings. They had already spent long hours in the heat and humidity stacking things like the girl's toys, extra clothing, and other belongings on shelving and furniture they weren't going to move, at what they hope will be above the waterline. The lateness of the hour and their exhaustion meant they could do no more. The heavy stuff, washer, dryer, couch, etc., has to be moved tomorrow. Sue and I drove home depressed.
The tragedy here is summed up in Cliff's words to me as we drove a load of their belongings to his mother's home in Burlington: "Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, they have." It was all I could to keep from bursting into tears. When I multiply their story by the hundreds, even thousands of similar stories of flood victims around Iowa, Wisconsin, and elsewhere in the Midwest, it is overwhelming. I take some solace in the fact that we were doing what we can to give some little relief to Cliff and Linda knowing that we can't do it all. I have been wondering how many people who were on the brink of financial ruin are pushed over the edge like the waters of the Mississippi over the levees.
Well its time for the Sunday liturgy. A time on this particular Sunday to share our concerns and pain and be in touch with God's grace and presence for healing and comfort.
Monday, June 16th...
I was able to recruit some help to get Cliff and Linda's heavy stuff moved. So after church we headed back over to the 'other side' (as the Illinois side of the river is referred to in Burlington) to finish what we started yesterday. In the middle of it we were hit a hail storm followed by a heavy down pour, but thankfully it lasted only a few minutes. We were able to get all the big and heavy stuff loaded, as well as finish off the smaller things. We drove away leaving everything in God's hands.
The village of Gulfport, IL, across the river from Burlington, has been ordered to evacuate by no later than today. The Mississippi is expected to crest tomorrow at 25.7, if so, I'm told that most of the levees will be breached or they will collapse. The flood barriers in downtown Burlington that were built over the weekend are leaking and one has been breached.
Cliff and Linda, the girls and a yellow lab are now safely squared away in the upstairs of the Christ Church parish hall where there is a sofa sleeper, a clean toilet, and the kitchen. We are praying the levees will hold.
As the afternoon wore on we did get word that our friends who own "Big Muddy's" (a restaurant converted from an old railroad depot and warehouse on the river) have lost their battle to save the building. They spent $25,000 (not counting volunteer labor) building a cement and sand moat around their restaurant. I am heart broken for them. For the time being and for the next few months, Dennis and Karla will lose their livelihood, as well their employees, some of whom are single parents.
Again, I know their story, and Cliff and Linda's are not unique, as it is repeated over and over again all across the state and in other places around the Midwest.
Tuesday, June 17th...
I am deeply appreciative and thankful for the offers that have come Iowa's way over the past few days.
I now have a list of names and numbers and as soon as I get the word, I will get these folks connected as soon as possible.
Blessings,
Pat Genereux
Christ Church, Burlington
The bottoms (the strip of land between the levees and the hills) between Burlington and the village of Oakville are being evacuated as the levees are threatened and perhaps breached. Lots of rumors are floating around about the levees being breached, like river debris caught in the current of speculation, concern and perhaps no small amount of voyeurism.
In Burlington itself more businesses than homes are being threatened as flood waters in the downtown area are rising by the minute. That is of some comfort, but the loss or disruption of one's livelihood is just as devastating as losing one's home. One major community event has been curtailed which means huge losses to the local economy and the many vendors who rely on the summer fair season for their livelihood. Another is threatened today by more rain. It's what Maureen Doherty (Vicar of St Andrew's, Waverly) and I talked about last week, there are many layers to this disaster. It's not just the flood waters and its damage, there's what happens as a result added to what was going on even before the rains came.
So here is one of those stories. I received a call late yesterday afternoon from a Christ Church family who have been moving their belongings over the last two days all by themselves. They are an older couple (in their 60s) raising a couple of young granddaughters. I tried finding some others to help but at that late hour it wasn't going to happen. Sue and I got in Big Red (our name for our pickup) and went over there.
Cliff and Linda live across the river (Mississippi) on a small lake with a dozen or so other families. Lake Stevenson looks tranquil enough, but overruns its banks when the levees are breached, which is what is expected to happen and why they and all the others were told to evacuate.
Cliff and Linda both looked absolutely wiped out. The sheer physical labor and the emotional stress was taking its toll. We helped move one load of food and clothing and helped load a flatbed trailer with other belongings. They had already spent long hours in the heat and humidity stacking things like the girl's toys, extra clothing, and other belongings on shelving and furniture they weren't going to move, at what they hope will be above the waterline. The lateness of the hour and their exhaustion meant they could do no more. The heavy stuff, washer, dryer, couch, etc., has to be moved tomorrow. Sue and I drove home depressed.
The tragedy here is summed up in Cliff's words to me as we drove a load of their belongings to his mother's home in Burlington: "Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, they have." It was all I could to keep from bursting into tears. When I multiply their story by the hundreds, even thousands of similar stories of flood victims around Iowa, Wisconsin, and elsewhere in the Midwest, it is overwhelming. I take some solace in the fact that we were doing what we can to give some little relief to Cliff and Linda knowing that we can't do it all. I have been wondering how many people who were on the brink of financial ruin are pushed over the edge like the waters of the Mississippi over the levees.
Well its time for the Sunday liturgy. A time on this particular Sunday to share our concerns and pain and be in touch with God's grace and presence for healing and comfort.
Monday, June 16th...
I was able to recruit some help to get Cliff and Linda's heavy stuff moved. So after church we headed back over to the 'other side' (as the Illinois side of the river is referred to in Burlington) to finish what we started yesterday. In the middle of it we were hit a hail storm followed by a heavy down pour, but thankfully it lasted only a few minutes. We were able to get all the big and heavy stuff loaded, as well as finish off the smaller things. We drove away leaving everything in God's hands.
The village of Gulfport, IL, across the river from Burlington, has been ordered to evacuate by no later than today. The Mississippi is expected to crest tomorrow at 25.7, if so, I'm told that most of the levees will be breached or they will collapse. The flood barriers in downtown Burlington that were built over the weekend are leaking and one has been breached.
Cliff and Linda, the girls and a yellow lab are now safely squared away in the upstairs of the Christ Church parish hall where there is a sofa sleeper, a clean toilet, and the kitchen. We are praying the levees will hold.
As the afternoon wore on we did get word that our friends who own "Big Muddy's" (a restaurant converted from an old railroad depot and warehouse on the river) have lost their battle to save the building. They spent $25,000 (not counting volunteer labor) building a cement and sand moat around their restaurant. I am heart broken for them. For the time being and for the next few months, Dennis and Karla will lose their livelihood, as well their employees, some of whom are single parents.
Again, I know their story, and Cliff and Linda's are not unique, as it is repeated over and over again all across the state and in other places around the Midwest.
Tuesday, June 17th...
Our parishioners, Cliff and Linda, found out that their house has water up to the eaves, following the early morning levee break, south of Gulfport, IL - this means both the Gulfport and Lake Stevenson communities are now completely under water; Dennis and Karla's restaurant in Burlington ("Big Muddy's" as seen on CBS news and the BBC) though a real mess, will eventually re-open! Parishioner's with businesses under or in water are: Bonnie, Ron, Newt, and Mac and sons, Mac Jr and Steve: they all vow to recover and go forward...
Oakville, IA (22 miles north of here on 99) is completely under water, as is much of the 'bottoms' between here and there; many farms are completely under water...
Like so many other Iowa places, it’s a mess and we'll be in recovery a long time, but recover we will...Hope prevails!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I am deeply appreciative and thankful for the offers that have come Iowa's way over the past few days.
I now have a list of names and numbers and as soon as I get the word, I will get these folks connected as soon as possible.
Blessings,
Pat Genereux
Christ Church, Burlington
Friday, June 13, 2008
CLEANING UP & HELPING OUT! RECOVERY!
RECOVERY...
If you, and others you know, are able to offer your time and presence to help folks sort through the muck and mud of of the aftermath flooding, please email me at pegenereux@msn.com or call me at 319 750 3200 and let me know who you are, where you live, when you might be available and how we can best contact you (cell phone and email will be best). If you come bring lots of cleaning supplies (paper towels, cleaning products). If you have a special skill (for example electrician, carpenter, etc.) you can offer Post a comment below...
The UMC has this site to go to regarding a unique way to help with cleaning supplies...
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies (the kit instruction sheets links are about midway down, on the right side of the page)
OTHER THINGS WE COULD USE:
1. rags for cleaning, cut up and ready to use...packed in grocery bags
2. basic cleaning supplies: bleach, PineSol, etc.
3. rubber gloves, latex gloves
4. disposable diapers
5. gift cards: Target, HyVee, etc. (any amount)
We'd like to start an online exchange: so, if you can give furniture (NO MATTRESSES), kitchen items, etc., (BUT NO CLOTHING PLEASE) or, if you have a truck or a trailer that can be used in getting items to those in need Post a comment below...
If you or someone you know needs assistance please get in touch with me at the above email address or cell phone so we can begin matching those needs together with people who are able to help...
Here are four 'lists' we are creating...PLEASE COORDINATE THIS WITH YOUR CONGREGATIONS...
1. We are beginning to identify who may be able to actually help with cleaning up (homes, sand bags, sand piles, etc.)... (we have two in-state teams and at least five from out-side of Iowa)
a. I need names
b. I need phone number/s: cell phone numbers are best..
2. We need to identify gifts of furniture, household items, (no mattresses or bed and bath linens), etc.
a. who has what
b. where is it located
c. how soon is it available
3. We need to identify ways to get these gifts from point A to point B: that is: who has a pickup, a trailer, or a truck (tractor- trailer?)
4. We need to identify who needs what help...here is where we will need the help of a local person...
a. I need the name and phone number (cells are best so I can contact them any time) of a contact person in your parish...the idea is to have a single local contact who can coordinate local needs with other churches, civil authorities, Red Cross, etc...as soon as we can get the state-wide ecumenical network set-up I will pass that information/plan on to the local contact...
b. the local contact will then let me know what help is needed...so,
c. I can hook them up with the closest help available (1-3 above)
The idea here will be to keep things simple, by connecting those in need with those who are willing to help.
Blessings,
Pat Genereux
If you, and others you know, are able to offer your time and presence to help folks sort through the muck and mud of of the aftermath flooding, please email me at pegenereux@msn.com or call me at 319 750 3200 and let me know who you are, where you live, when you might be available and how we can best contact you (cell phone and email will be best). If you come bring lots of cleaning supplies (paper towels, cleaning products). If you have a special skill (for example electrician, carpenter, etc.) you can offer Post a comment below...
The UMC has this site to go to regarding a unique way to help with cleaning supplies...
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies (the kit instruction sheets links are about midway down, on the right side of the page)
OTHER THINGS WE COULD USE:
1. rags for cleaning, cut up and ready to use...packed in grocery bags
2. basic cleaning supplies: bleach, PineSol, etc.
3. rubber gloves, latex gloves
4. disposable diapers
5. gift cards: Target, HyVee, etc. (any amount)
We'd like to start an online exchange: so, if you can give furniture (NO MATTRESSES), kitchen items, etc., (BUT NO CLOTHING PLEASE) or, if you have a truck or a trailer that can be used in getting items to those in need Post a comment below...
If you or someone you know needs assistance please get in touch with me at the above email address or cell phone so we can begin matching those needs together with people who are able to help...
Here are four 'lists' we are creating...PLEASE COORDINATE THIS WITH YOUR CONGREGATIONS...
1. We are beginning to identify who may be able to actually help with cleaning up (homes, sand bags, sand piles, etc.)... (we have two in-state teams and at least five from out-side of Iowa)
a. I need names
b. I need phone number/s: cell phone numbers are best..
2. We need to identify gifts of furniture, household items, (no mattresses or bed and bath linens), etc.
a. who has what
b. where is it located
c. how soon is it available
3. We need to identify ways to get these gifts from point A to point B: that is: who has a pickup, a trailer, or a truck (tractor- trailer?)
4. We need to identify who needs what help...here is where we will need the help of a local person...
a. I need the name and phone number (cells are best so I can contact them any time) of a contact person in your parish...the idea is to have a single local contact who can coordinate local needs with other churches, civil authorities, Red Cross, etc...as soon as we can get the state-wide ecumenical network set-up I will pass that information/plan on to the local contact...
b. the local contact will then let me know what help is needed...so,
c. I can hook them up with the closest help available (1-3 above)
The idea here will be to keep things simple, by connecting those in need with those who are willing to help.
Blessings,
Pat Genereux
Pastoral Letter from Bishop Alan Scarfe to the Congregations of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
For Sunday, 15 June 2008
Dearly beloved in Christ,
We gather today in difficult circumstances. We are mindful of the young men lost last week to the tornado in Little Sioux City and the heroics of their friends that saved lives. We may have spent hours on the sandbag lines, saving our city downtown, or seeing our efforts less successful. We have homes suddenly caught in the middle of rivers turned lakes. Our farmers are faced with an uncertain crop and livelihood from their mud-filled, lake-like fields. Our houses have taken on a distinctive odor as we continue to bail out our basements or worse.
One month ago we were grateful for the gift of water (as every baptismal liturgy helps us recall). We were celebrating Waters of Hope, and now our new web-site for blogging our stories is simply “Iowa Waters”. What needs to be said or done at this time?
First of all, we continue to wrap each other and our communities in prayer. We share this as every moment together with God. There was a photo in the Des Moines Register of a man sitting on his favorite bench yet knee deep in water and clearly out in a large patch of flood water. He was catching his breath and perhaps a moment of reflection. If praying, he could not have offered it in a more appropriate place. Prayer lifts our eyes above ourselves and it takes place in the midst of the storm, not only in quiet moments.
Secondly, we need to know that we are sharing ourselves with each other. On the sandbag line in Cedar Falls, a sixty year old Episcopal priest was sandwiched between two High School football players, who insisted on tossing her the sandbags until she let on that her strong looks may deceive and asked if he would hand them to her. We share ourselves through communicating together, which is why we have started a special blog called Iowa Waters to listen to one another. (Link through our Diocesan website)
Thirdly, we commit to a long term action of service. I was reminded that there are several stages – this watching and holding back phase; the immediate caring of the evacuees and those most affected; then the clean up crews and the planners and the rebuilding; eventually we have also decided as a Church to be present for the mental and spiritual health needs as they arise once bravery and adrenaline drop with the water levels.
Today leaders of almost all the faith denominations held a conference call to map out how we can carry out as coordinated an effort as possible. We have offered the new web-site (Iowa Waters) which Pat Genereux put together for our communication to the ecumenical community. It is being expanded as a vehicle for news from the ecumenical community. We are talking about obtaining some volunteer coordinators in order to be ready for what we expect to be a rush of men and women eager to clean up and rebuild.
Above all we know that the Church is not the Red Cross or FEMA or the insurance business, and we need to be able to guide people for the assistance which can come from those official sources. We will wait our turn to meet longer term needs. And in the meantime pay attention as best we can to those with special needs, those without sure employment or resources, even those recently arrived in our state.
We gather then today to find God as our tower of strength, not our rescuer from hardship. As Eucharistic Prayer C says at its conclusion “Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only and not for strength, for pardon only and not for renewal.” These are hard words when we really needs Christ’s saving embrace; when we need the Christ who calms the storm to show up on the waves. Instead He shows up on the sandbag line, with the offertory box, in our loving embraces and our resolute spirits, in our wiping away of tears, and in our stubborn willingness of faith always to give thanks for the gift of water.
Yours in the peace of Christ that passes understanding,
+Alan Scarfe, Bishop of Iowa
Dearly beloved in Christ,
We gather today in difficult circumstances. We are mindful of the young men lost last week to the tornado in Little Sioux City and the heroics of their friends that saved lives. We may have spent hours on the sandbag lines, saving our city downtown, or seeing our efforts less successful. We have homes suddenly caught in the middle of rivers turned lakes. Our farmers are faced with an uncertain crop and livelihood from their mud-filled, lake-like fields. Our houses have taken on a distinctive odor as we continue to bail out our basements or worse.
One month ago we were grateful for the gift of water (as every baptismal liturgy helps us recall). We were celebrating Waters of Hope, and now our new web-site for blogging our stories is simply “Iowa Waters”. What needs to be said or done at this time?
First of all, we continue to wrap each other and our communities in prayer. We share this as every moment together with God. There was a photo in the Des Moines Register of a man sitting on his favorite bench yet knee deep in water and clearly out in a large patch of flood water. He was catching his breath and perhaps a moment of reflection. If praying, he could not have offered it in a more appropriate place. Prayer lifts our eyes above ourselves and it takes place in the midst of the storm, not only in quiet moments.
Secondly, we need to know that we are sharing ourselves with each other. On the sandbag line in Cedar Falls, a sixty year old Episcopal priest was sandwiched between two High School football players, who insisted on tossing her the sandbags until she let on that her strong looks may deceive and asked if he would hand them to her. We share ourselves through communicating together, which is why we have started a special blog called Iowa Waters to listen to one another. (Link through our Diocesan website)
Thirdly, we commit to a long term action of service. I was reminded that there are several stages – this watching and holding back phase; the immediate caring of the evacuees and those most affected; then the clean up crews and the planners and the rebuilding; eventually we have also decided as a Church to be present for the mental and spiritual health needs as they arise once bravery and adrenaline drop with the water levels.
Today leaders of almost all the faith denominations held a conference call to map out how we can carry out as coordinated an effort as possible. We have offered the new web-site (Iowa Waters) which Pat Genereux put together for our communication to the ecumenical community. It is being expanded as a vehicle for news from the ecumenical community. We are talking about obtaining some volunteer coordinators in order to be ready for what we expect to be a rush of men and women eager to clean up and rebuild.
Above all we know that the Church is not the Red Cross or FEMA or the insurance business, and we need to be able to guide people for the assistance which can come from those official sources. We will wait our turn to meet longer term needs. And in the meantime pay attention as best we can to those with special needs, those without sure employment or resources, even those recently arrived in our state.
We gather then today to find God as our tower of strength, not our rescuer from hardship. As Eucharistic Prayer C says at its conclusion “Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only and not for strength, for pardon only and not for renewal.” These are hard words when we really needs Christ’s saving embrace; when we need the Christ who calms the storm to show up on the waves. Instead He shows up on the sandbag line, with the offertory box, in our loving embraces and our resolute spirits, in our wiping away of tears, and in our stubborn willingness of faith always to give thanks for the gift of water.
Yours in the peace of Christ that passes understanding,
+Alan Scarfe, Bishop of Iowa
Cedar Rapids
6/13...
From Bp Scarfe...
Also talked with Paul Fuessel at Grace, Cedar Rapids. Church high enough to avoid the downtown flooding (knew all that high church would pay off). Have two families evacuated near levees, and two more with bad flooding.
From Deacon John Adney, Grace, Cedar Rapids...
Floodwaters are about a block from Grace Church. There's no way the flood can reach the top of our hill, but stranger things could happen. St. Luke's Hospital, where my wife Pat works, is running by generators. Mercy Medical Center has floodwater on part of the first floor. If the flood reaches Grace Church, St. Luke's will be flooded too.
From Bp Scarfe...
Also talked with Paul Fuessel at Grace, Cedar Rapids. Church high enough to avoid the downtown flooding (knew all that high church would pay off). Have two families evacuated near levees, and two more with bad flooding.
From Deacon John Adney, Grace, Cedar Rapids...
Floodwaters are about a block from Grace Church. There's no way the flood can reach the top of our hill, but stranger things could happen. St. Luke's Hospital, where my wife Pat works, is running by generators. Mercy Medical Center has floodwater on part of the first floor. If the flood reaches Grace Church, St. Luke's will be flooded too.
Iowa City
6/13...
From Catherine Quehl-Engle...
OK, Hwy 380 is closing soon between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, possibly for up to a week (maybe extending past Swisher). Hwy 1 from Mt. Vernon to Iowa City is also closed. May need to go all the way to Grinnell in order pick up 380 from this side of Iowa. Cornell College is now housing displaced Coe College students (Coe flooded) and their wedding events. Also women from a Cedar Rapids drug rehab program and their children. Will be interesting to see how our little grocer keeps important things like beer, toilet paper, and peanut butter stocked. As for Iowa City, it sounds like Burlington Bridge-last bridge in IC--will close tonight or Saturday. Perhaps we need a diocesan helicopter--or an arc.
Be well, everybody.
Peace,
Catherine Quehl-Engel
P.S. Interstate 80 traffic funneling through Mt Vernon. If you must travel through these parts know that Craig and I have stocked the beer, toilet paper, and peanut butter and have guest room if necessary (h:319-895-0311).
Alan,
I talked with Carol Dollman at the church, and all is well so far. Volunteers were requested at Sunday services for sandbagging for the area. Carol said she is comparing the list of closed roads to the church contact list and don't see any matches so far. They are keeping an eye on it. Internet access is down at the church and electricity is likely to be affected in the coming days. I'll keep you posted if I hear more.
Karen
From Willa Goodfellow..."Our Turn Now..."
Okay -- the latest message is that the Burlington Bridge in Iowa City is still open, reports otherwise notwithstanding. You can also reach the hospital from Melrose Avenue exit off Highway 280. But DO NOT COME unless for your own medical emergency! If you have an appointment, even for surgery, call before you come to verify that your appointment still exists. If you have somebody who is a patient who absolutely needs a visit, let us know. I personally am not making nonessential visits for now. Nonessential traffic impedes the arrival of essential medical and security staff. Our crest is scheduled for Wednesday, but that's a moving target that keeps moving farther away and higher.
From Catherine Quehl-Engle...
OK, Hwy 380 is closing soon between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, possibly for up to a week (maybe extending past Swisher). Hwy 1 from Mt. Vernon to Iowa City is also closed. May need to go all the way to Grinnell in order pick up 380 from this side of Iowa. Cornell College is now housing displaced Coe College students (Coe flooded) and their wedding events. Also women from a Cedar Rapids drug rehab program and their children. Will be interesting to see how our little grocer keeps important things like beer, toilet paper, and peanut butter stocked. As for Iowa City, it sounds like Burlington Bridge-last bridge in IC--will close tonight or Saturday. Perhaps we need a diocesan helicopter--or an arc.
Be well, everybody.
Peace,
Catherine Quehl-Engel
P.S. Interstate 80 traffic funneling through Mt Vernon. If you must travel through these parts know that Craig and I have stocked the beer, toilet paper, and peanut butter and have guest room if necessary (h:319-895-0311).
Alan,
I talked with Carol Dollman at the church, and all is well so far. Volunteers were requested at Sunday services for sandbagging for the area. Carol said she is comparing the list of closed roads to the church contact list and don't see any matches so far. They are keeping an eye on it. Internet access is down at the church and electricity is likely to be affected in the coming days. I'll keep you posted if I hear more.
Karen
From Willa Goodfellow..."Our Turn Now..."
Okay -- the latest message is that the Burlington Bridge in Iowa City is still open, reports otherwise notwithstanding. You can also reach the hospital from Melrose Avenue exit off Highway 280. But DO NOT COME unless for your own medical emergency! If you have an appointment, even for surgery, call before you come to verify that your appointment still exists. If you have somebody who is a patient who absolutely needs a visit, let us know. I personally am not making nonessential visits for now. Nonessential traffic impedes the arrival of essential medical and security staff. Our crest is scheduled for Wednesday, but that's a moving target that keeps moving farther away and higher.
Iowa Interfaith Relief Council Request
The Iowa Interfaith Disaster Recovery Network has asked the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa to post flood updates for all denominations and to coordinate assistance, relief, clean-up, and other work by way of the Iowa Waters blog. We can use this site to share what is being done, what needs doing, who needs what help and when.
As soon as the information is made available, links to the various member web sites will be posted as well. Email addresses for the member churches can be found on their web pages.
We are also asking that your stories and pictures to be sent to me at: pegenereux@msn.com. I have been asked to coordinate the sharing of this information and the relief effort. You may also, if it is easier, call me on my cell at 319 750 3200.
Trusting in God's healing and hope filled presence,
Pat Genereux
Rector, Christ Episcopal Church
Burlington, Iowa
As soon as the information is made available, links to the various member web sites will be posted as well. Email addresses for the member churches can be found on their web pages.
We are also asking that your stories and pictures to be sent to me at: pegenereux@msn.com. I have been asked to coordinate the sharing of this information and the relief effort. You may also, if it is easier, call me on my cell at 319 750 3200.
Trusting in God's healing and hope filled presence,
Pat Genereux
Rector, Christ Episcopal Church
Burlington, Iowa
Thursday, June 12, 2008
From Maureen Doughty, St Andrew's, Waverly
6/13...I am in Waverly today have visited my parish members, Cornforth's have taken the hardest hit, we will help them for sure. Coming up it looked like little happening really except wet fields. But Waverly is truly a mess, entire households and businesses stacked on street corners. Loss personally and economically will be huge. There was a town meeting this AM, lots of good coordination. Saturday the expectation is that those who were affected by the flood of 1993 will be affected again. Cedar Falls downtown is open. 218 going N and S is open. Blessings to all and for those contending with this today and through the weekend know that we are with you in heart and prayer. Maureen
6/12...I spoke with Maureen Doughty (her parish is in Waverly but lives in Cedar Falls) late this afternoon. She was making supper but took a few minutes to chat. She noted that the Cedar River's flood stage is 12' but it was cresting at 33'.
She told me the story of a couple who lost their house, spent five hours with FEMA, and walked away with nothing. Not much has changed has it? We talked a little about the farmers who will really struggle even if parts of their crops survive. The ripple effect of course will higher prices for beef and pork (feed will be affected) and food by-products. Maureen noted that as she and some neightbors visited today the local Farmer's Market was brought up. Farmer's Markets are both a social and economic event in many Iowa communities. One of the invisible victims of the flooding is the loss of this event in places like Cedar Falls. Along with that loss is the loss of income that many Farmer's Market vendors rely on throughout the summer.
We ended our visit on a more upbeat note, that though there will be much work to do in Waverly by way of clean-up, etc., all her parishioners are accounted for. She will keep us all posted regarding need.
6/12...I spoke with Maureen Doughty (her parish is in Waverly but lives in Cedar Falls) late this afternoon. She was making supper but took a few minutes to chat. She noted that the Cedar River's flood stage is 12' but it was cresting at 33'.
She told me the story of a couple who lost their house, spent five hours with FEMA, and walked away with nothing. Not much has changed has it? We talked a little about the farmers who will really struggle even if parts of their crops survive. The ripple effect of course will higher prices for beef and pork (feed will be affected) and food by-products. Maureen noted that as she and some neightbors visited today the local Farmer's Market was brought up. Farmer's Markets are both a social and economic event in many Iowa communities. One of the invisible victims of the flooding is the loss of this event in places like Cedar Falls. Along with that loss is the loss of income that many Farmer's Market vendors rely on throughout the summer.
We ended our visit on a more upbeat note, that though there will be much work to do in Waverly by way of clean-up, etc., all her parishioners are accounted for. She will keep us all posted regarding need.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
St John's, Mason City, Request
Wendy Abrahamson, Rector of St John's, called with this request for your prayerful consideration...One of Wendy's parishioners, a special needs person, has been evacuated from her home and will be displaced for at least two months. She is in a group home in Clear Lake for the time being. Wendy said her parishioner can use some rental assistance. If you can't give right now, even your pledge to help will go a long way in ensuring that this person gets the help she needs.
Thanks!
GIVING...
Here's the link to the online donations to Iowa Interfaith Disaster Recovery Network:
https://secure.siteoncall.com/events/register_online.php?event=103
Here's the link to the bishop's Crisis Relief Fund:
https://secure.siteoncall.com/events/register_online.php?event=102
Anyone wishing to give by check (made out to DIOCESE OF IOWA-FLOOD RELIEF) can do so by sending contributions to the Diocesan office @ 225 37th Street, Des Moines 50312.
We will coordinate financial assistance requests through Pat Genereux (Christ Church, Burlington) with checks going from the Diocesan office to clergy for distribution through their own Discretionary Funds to those in need.
https://secure.siteoncall.com/events/register_online.php?event=103
Here's the link to the bishop's Crisis Relief Fund:
https://secure.siteoncall.com/events/register_online.php?event=102
Anyone wishing to give by check (made out to DIOCESE OF IOWA-FLOOD RELIEF) can do so by sending contributions to the Diocesan office @ 225 37th Street, Des Moines 50312.
We will coordinate financial assistance requests through Pat Genereux (Christ Church, Burlington) with checks going from the Diocesan office to clergy for distribution through their own Discretionary Funds to those in need.
Flood Stories
The purpose of this 'blog' is to have a place for those who wish, to share their flood stories and needs. If you wish you can send photos to pegenereux@msn.com in .jpg format and I will upload them to the blog.
Pat Genereux
Pat Genereux
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