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.