UPDATE March 7, 2009

UPDATE early February, 2009

Omigoodness--has it been that long since we've written an update?  Well it sure isn't because nothing's been happening.  God is SO GOOD--and so are God's Servants!  We have had rebuild folks in here, small group by small group, and some medium-sized ones too, throughout the winter.  Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Weekend was a great time--not only did we have visiting volunteers staying at our church--but we also had wonderful volunteers from Allen College and UNI take their "day off" as a "day on"--they came and cleaned our carpets, redid our brochure rack, and MANY other cleaning and upkeep jobs--primarily so that we can continue on hosting volunteers and being a community center here in the north part of Waterloo! 

 

September 23, 2008

Greetings! Well, Fall is officially here, the season has changed and so has our recovery phase. We are now preparing for Phase 2 of recovery—Rebuild.

Rebuild is exciting! It is getting down to literally the nuts & bolts, hammers & saws! The Black Hawk County Long Term Recovery Committee and sub-committees have been diligently working hard to establish all the necessary protocols for successful recovery.

One of these is the inviting of Christian Reformed World Relief to meet with all 43,000 disaster households to asses exactly what is needed for each family to recover. They are hitting the pavement and knocking on doors for the next 2 weeks. Once this is completed we will know exactly what we need for the rebuild! The biggest need will be YOU!! Our wonderful devoted volunteers! Churches are ready to make the house of God, your home while visiting our community.

Other items we will need are financial contributions. So, if you perhaps want to be a part of the rebuild but can’t build, your dollars turn into sheet rock, boards, nails; making the rebuild possible!

We thank all of you for your interest in our communities and for so graciously sharing your time and talents, God’s love and grace. Your generosity is God’s love in action!

We know there are needs in many places in our country and throughout the world.  If you are called to be elsewhere, we rejoice in any way you serve in Christ's name.  If you happen to feel the Holy Spirit tugging you this direction, we encourage you to look into it.  The needs are really truly here, too--and very real people's lives will be deeply affected for good by anyone who decides to invest in this direction. 

We have a great recent blog to refer you to--see photos and what Team Leader Chris wrote about their VERY recent trip here at www.servantsiowa.blogspot.com

Start reading at the www.servantsiowa.blogspot.com from the bottom up.  Thanks!

 

The CENTRAL NUMBER still to offer and coordinate your LOVING VOLUNTEER SERVICES in recovery and rebuilding in our area over the next months or years is:
319-429-0356  We are delighted to have you, whether rebuilding after tornado or flood! 

 

 

For volunteer-related questions specifically for St. Paul's UM Church, call Pastor Sheryl or one of our Fearless Flood Assistants at 319-404-3142

UPDATE September 3, 2008

On June 9 and 10, 2008 the water started coming BIG time, and rose to levels beyond that anyone can remember.  Thousands of homes, businesses, farms, fields and recreation areas were flooded.  This was only a couple of weeks after a terrifying and destructive EF-5 tornado ripped up homes, schools, and all the rest through several nearby towns and rural areas.  Scroll to the first entry in this "diary" to read more details.

Our church's part in the recovery effort includes prayer and other kinds of support for many who have sustained grave losses.  But also we are hosting mission work groups who are coming to our area in loving response to the incredible Storms of 2008--of all denominations.  We have lots of space for free for you and your sleeping bags--we are adding some inflatable mattresses and big pillows to whatever you already are bringing.  Call Pastor Sheryl or one of our Fearless Flood Phone Volunteers at St. Paul's Church at our new Flood Phone number:  319-404-3142 for more information.  Actual arrangements are made through 319-429-0356.  Kitchen available for you to cook in, showers in our men's and women's rest rooms, a new commercial washer and dryer (thanks to a wonderful United Methodist partner church in Birmingham, Michigan).  We have lots of friendly hospitality, and some folks getting ready to cook for you once in awhile in appreciation. 

We are serving surrounding communities as well.  Other kinds of housing is available in the area.  More church and non-profit agencies already helping, with yet more on the way.

August 15, 2008

"Let your light so shine before people that they may see your good deeds, and praise your Father in heaven."
          Jesus--in Matthew 5:16

Wow, what a week!  And what a past SEVERAL weeks! 

Monday morning, some 40+ people gathered once again to review where we have been, and where we hope to go, in terms of Flood/Disaster Recovery in Black Hawk County and areas nearby.  This group began meeting in downtown Waterloo, and now for the past several weeks they have been pleased to come to our church's New Life Center.  This is a group including representatives from so many human care agencies in our community, and those who have come from outside our community to partner with us in the flood recovery.  Over the weeks since the Week of June 9+++ flooding, Sheila Baird from United Way or Lorie Glover of the local office of the American Red Cross has convened us--together we have been folks from United Way, national and local Red Cross, Salvation Army, Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging, Operation Threshold, several churches and also denominational disaster responders, Waterloo and Cedar Falls city government and housing people, leaders from Black Hawk County, and other towns nearby and the rural areas, FEMA, Iowa Conference United Methodist Disaster Response, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief), Church World Service, CRWRC (Christian Reformed World Relief Committee), Presbyterian Church USA (local and regional), Seventh Day Adventist, Roman Catholic churches and disaster relief, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Iowa State Extension, various mental health connections including Project Recovery Iowa, those who assist with legal matters, family credit counseling, health care, public information, and many many more.  And many of those have remained all along and will continue as part of the team of those partnering to care for our community and others for miles around.  Directors from wonderful volunteer agencies bringing and organizing hundreds of folks coming in from not only the Midwest, but all over the country--such as Samaritan's Purse, Nechama-Jewish Response to Disaster, World Hope International, and Southern Baptist Disaster Response have been part of that.  They will not continue to meet every week, but will call meetings from time to time--the next one is 9am Monday, August 25 at St. Paul's, 207 West Louise Street, Waterloo. 

We know more have come and are coming to assist from various other denominations, including Disciples of Christ, United Church of Christ, Lutherans, Wesleyans, Vineyard, Non-denominational, and more and more and more. 

Now four of our local Cedar Valley leaders--Lorie Glover of Red Cross, Frank Magsamen of BH County Board of Supervisors, Donna Harvey/Janna Diehl of HVAA on Aging and Sheila Baird of United Way make up the Long Term Recovery Committee--and many of the rest of us are forming into sub-committees.  Case Management/Review, Volunteer Management, Information Technology/Computers, Fundraising/Budget, Public Affairs and Information, Managing Donations, Social Events & Milestones, Construction Management, Governmental, Business, & Trade Unions.  I believe that all or most of these sub-committees would be very welcome to having more who are willing to serve with them.  Most of them are meeting for the first time this past week and next week. 

We will partner in the efforts to follow up with and evaluate the situation of everyone who has sustained disaster damage, and work toward meeting any unmet needs (of which there are plenty!), and provide support and restoration in an organized, safe and legal manner, to the best of our abilities--with the help of God, and all the Good that comes from God in the form of help from others.  I am working with and representing St. Paul's United Methodist Church on the Volunteer Management sub-committee and will help elsewhere as needed. 

In current efforts in Flood Recovery, we in our community are transitioning right now, from still having a few but not too many places that still need initial cleanout/muckout--now we are getting ready for the Case Management of the thousands of people where our folks come alongside them to evaluate their situation, see what they have (from FEMA and other sources), and then determine their still-unmet-needs.  We will be putting volunteers to work for 2-3 years in rebuilding and restoring--and will put the wonderful donations coming toward those who have lost so much, and also to the expenses of organizing, housing volunteers, and the many supplies needed.  Every dollar invested in the management and equipping area allows the equipping and dispatching and care of hundreds of volunteers--and that is bringing those who have lost so much what they may need even more than "stuff"--the thousands of hours of labor needed to put things back together. 

There are a few volunteers keeping busy in some of those wonderful in-between jobs right now in our area.  And Case Management is moving right ahead slowly now, soon to speed up to visiting with hundreds of people about where they are at in everything, and how they can be lovingly assisted.  Keep checking our website from time to time--there will be MUCH more information coming up, and we will likely refer you to information on some OTHER website as well--soon after September 1. 

The CENTRAL NUMBER still to offer and coordinate your LOVING VOLUNTEER SERVICES in recovery and rebuilding in our area is:
319-429-0356  

The above number can also help you connect with any of the folks mentioned in this update.

If your volunteer group needs housing, there will be plenty of us ready and welcoming!  We at St. Paul's UM Church have housed over 123 volunteers so far in the past two months, and hope to welcome many more of you wonderful volunteer groups in the future for recovery and rebuilding.  We have enjoyed many United Methodist Volunteers In Mission, and folks from several other denominations, faith-based service groups, Habitat for Humanity and Americorps/VISTA. 

Our St. Paul's UM Church Flood Phone

and Volunteer Housing number is 319-404-3142. 

There are MANY wonderful churches stepping forward to join us in Hospitality and Housing for recovery volunteers. 
We will continue on as we have in the past, also, in housing Habitat for Humanity and other known and recognized groups offering service in our community. 

Scroll through our website www.stpaulsumcwaterloo.com to find more information, photos, and videos describing what has been going on around here. 
More is added as we get them, and as we have time. 

We at St. Paul's UM Church continue on also in the regular ministries of our church, --worship, fellowship, and service.
Weekly Sunday worship is 9am, followed by fellowship and and adult Bible Study group.  Regular Sunday school for all ages will begin again after Labor Day. 
Our "1st & 3rd Wednesday" midweek meals and worship--which grew to include even the 4th & 5th Wednesdays in July... will continue on as "1st Wednesdays" beginning in September.
5:30pm meal begins (come as you can), 6:30 casual worship begins--done by 7:15pm.  Stay after as you wish.  Free-will offering.

We continue in the partnering with others in our community for the care of people whatever their situation--the "Flood" has only served to help us to know one another so much better much more quickly--and hopefully to be able to share and serve in Christ's name no matter what the "storms of life" occur.  It all has been QUITE an education! 

There were well over 4,200 FEMA registrants in our Blackhawk county alone due to the flooding--and this does not begin to count Bremer, Butler, Buchanan and other counties and towns nearby--and of course as you move northwest to Mason City, and southeast to Cedar Rapids and on south to Iowa City/Coralville, and more Iowa towns with huge proportional effect such as Oakville, Palo and more...  AND there were the May 25 tornadoes just to the north of us!  And rain that came after all that that has kept the water tables so high...  Somewhere, sometime, and in some places already, there are facts and figures that will continue to boggle our minds with the huge numbers of those affected, dollar-losses, and also huge and wonderful and loving responses coming in. 

One neat thing that happened last Monday evening at the Waterloo and Cedar Falls City Council meetings, and again at the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, with SOME of the facts and figures included, was this wonderful PROCLAMATION OF THANKS, as the last of the national clean-up muck-out faith-based service groups prepares to leave our area after this coming weekend.  It is a beginning... and there is SO much more to express, whether you are mentioned aloud in it or not, PLEASE PLEASE feel our deep and abiding THANKS for all you have done, or will do, in our community. 

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Sheryl Campbell

Here is the Proclamation of Thanks that was presented and accepted--some of the type got mixed around in my cut-and-paste--hopefully it comes out readably all right...:

PROCLAMATION OF THANKS

WHEREAS, volunteers make our Nation stronger and better by reaching out to help neighbors in need and the great strength of our Nation is still found in the hearts and souls of people all across America who are willing to volunteer their time and talents to those in need; and

WHEREAS, on May 25, a destructive tornado tracked across northern

Black Hawk County; and

WHEREAS, in June 2008, Black Hawk County, including the cities of Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Evansdale, La Porte City and surrounding Cedar Valley communities, experienced horrendous flooding and devastation from the 2008 Flood; and

WHEREAS, individuals, service organizations and faith-based groups in Black Hawk County (Hawkeye Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, the Salvation Army, local churches and others) are assisting in recovery efforts; and

WHEREAS, Samaritan’s Purse International Relief has cleaned 115 homes in the cities and rural areas of Black Hawk County, involving 627 volunteers from across the Nation and quite a few home town helpers as well, contributing 10,892 volunteer hours, with at least another week of work yet remaining; and

WHEREAS, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has cleaned 128 houses and, with their chain saw unit, assisted 27 homes with debris cleanup, and with the food unit, prepared 155,219 meals that were delivered in Black Hawk County, with the assistance of 4 Southern Baptist Disaster Relief staff members and volunteers, contributed a total of 38,596 volunteer hours; and

WHEREAS, World Hope International has cleaned 112 homes, with assistance from their Disaster Response Coordinator, 3 site managers, and 231 volunteers, who collectively contributed 4646 volunteer hours; with volunteers coming for 11 different states for a total of 29,457 driving miles to assist in disaster recovery efforts. World Hope International partnered with Cedar Valley Community Church and the Northeast Iowa Food Bank to distribute nearly 7,000 lbs of disaster food to the community, along with flood buckets and cleaning supplies; and

WHEREAS, through this proclamation, we, the citizens of Black Hawk County want to publicly thank all those who have assisted with and continue to assist with clean up and recovery efforts and who cared deeply enough to come to our cities and to share their time, talents, emotional and spiritual support, by providing relief and help during this difficult time. We always will foster the efforts of those who cared deeply enough to leave their homes and come to our cities to help our communities recover in preparation for rebuilding.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we, the undersigned officials, hereby subscribe our name on this 11^th day of August 2008.

 

___________________________ ­­­___________________________

 

 

 

 

 

August 2, 2008

There still is much work to be done--you'll see more entries & info on our website after Monday...
There has been more mucking out still here in Waterloo and within 15 minutes of here than anyone thought for awhile--as World Hope and others started to move on, more calls started rolling in--and Samaritan's Purse has been heading up Muck Out Strip Down Power Wash & Sanitize jobs for the whole area--we keep giving them more volunteers--like folks from Northern Illinois here right now, and a group of 20 coming in from North Dakota next week!  Then we also keep finding more opportunities--like how the Illinois United Methodists mowed the lawn of a local part-time pastor from the Raymond UM Church--she works another job, got flooded, and in a recent accident broke her elbow--what a neat thing that our gang took the time to do this at her home. 

We thoroughly enjoyed worship together here at St. Paul's Thursday evening--fun music, and an inspiring message from Mr. Rick Hill of UMCOR--United Methodist Committee On Relief.  He is spending a few weeks here--visiting, communicating, helping St. Paul's and others dealing with the aftermath of the Storms of 2008.  His message connected Genesis 1 and Matthew 25--reminding us that as we help one another, we are helping God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit--as the image of God is in each person God has created, Jesus' words ring true--that as you have done something good/helpful unto someone, you also have done it unto Christ Himself.

 

 

July 29, 2008
The ministry of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, volunteers from around the country, Mr. Bob's worship music, and Pastor Sheryl were featured in Sunny Layne's segment, "Someone You Should Know" on KWWL-TV last night and again in this morning's newscasts. 

Go to Pastor Sheryl and St.Paul's Volunteer VIDEO

It was interesting how they took the part where I was talking about groups who have already been here, and melded it with the particular story about groups who were here with us last week.  Truly, you ALL have been a tremendous blessing to us, to Waterloo/Cedar Falls, and the entire Cedar Valley.  THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS! 

 

 

July 25, 2008

"Let your light so shine before people that they will see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven!"
words of Jesus, Matthew 5:16b

If you have other photos or videos to link to, let me know--
Whether of June flooding in Waterloo/Cedar Falls or other areas of Iowa...
Or the tornadoes of May 25 just a few miles from here. 

If you go to www.samaritan.org and click on Midwest Floods, you'll see a new and wonderful video that is showing what you ALL have been doing around here--whether people are working with Samaritan's Purse, or World Hope, or the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, or Nechama: Jewish Response to Disaster--and some are working in their own groups and connections through Christian (including United Methodist) and other faith-based servants.  This video was taken mostly in Cedar Falls, which is connected to Waterloo where we are--many of the volunteers have gone out from our church walls to Cedar Falls as well as to Waterloo, Waverly, and other places.  We are working together, shoulder-to-shoulder, across all lines to share God's love with people.  Our role seems to be strongest in hosting volunteers and getting them connected with folks like SP and the Food Bank and Operation Threshold and others. 

There also will be more and different kind of work to do as we begin the transition from "gutting" homes to rebuilding them.  The Long Range rebuilding phase is coming together, and there will be more news on that in the Monday Morning Meeting, 9am at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Waterloo. 

A few other videos of Waterloo/Cedar Falls...

Mucking-Out a House, June 2008 Video
This video is a well-done example of what many are doing all over our community right now.  St. Paul's United Methodist Church has been hosting many teams from United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, United Methodist churches and workers who simply put themselves together and give us a call, VISTA/Americorps workers, Habitat for Humanity, The Carpenter's Volunteers from the Denver, Colorado area, Servants.org from York, PA; youth and adults from 4 churches in and near Galva, IL.  More in next week!   And the week after, and the month after that...

Southern Baptists Help Cedar Valley Video
Another amazing video, this time featuring the Southern Baptist crew working in a nearby town of Lamont. 
This is exactly what United Methodist volunteers from Reinbeck, IA; Maxwell, IA; an Early Reponders UM Disaster team from Minnesota, Friends to Fossils of Humboldt, IA, and others have been doing.  That, and also the many who have been hauling out prized possessions, total junk, wet carpets and drywall, and more from home after home after home.  We will start to overlap with some rebuilding pieces soon, but this must be done to hundreds of homes still waiting. 

A great UM team from Tipton, IA was in for just a couple of days--they cleaned up, worked in the Food Bank, helped get bubbled paint off a formerly-flooded basement wall (that had already been power washed and sanitized by a former group) and got it repainted with special waterproof-amazing paint. 

Flood Damage in Waterloo Video
Any time you see pictures of water nearby, and actually, often when you don't even see the water in the streets, there is actually home-after-home-after-home with a basement with anywhere from 2 inches to 8 feet of water in their basement--most frequently, 4-6 feet.  Hundreds and hundreds of these in Waterloo and towns around. 

More Waterloo Flood Damage Video  
This is what downtown Waterloo looked like at one point--for every one of these pictures, there are several worse places not pictured.

Check out www.wcfcourier.com and poke around at Floods of 2008 and Tornadoes of 2008 and look for more photos--some of the best ones are in their "photos for sale" section--but you still can see them (with the word PROOF in the middle of them) if you poke around a little...

Lots of stories, also, at www.kwwl.com; www.kcrg.com; www.kgan.com

Hello from Pastor Sheryl,
July 21, 2008    Things are changing day by day here... be sure you call or email for an update on the situation before you take off to come and help.  So many wonderful people have been SUCH a blessing to this community.  I will write more later to tell you all about it.  THANK YOU!

 

Here is one description of "what happened" in our area in mid-June:

Storms devastated Iowa in May and June, 2008. The storms began with a major tornado on May 25 and continued in June as torrential rains began to swell the state's rivers and caused reservoirs to overflow. By June 14, major cities were under water, levees had given way, nearly all of the 99 counties were declared state disaster areas, and 18 counties were declared federal disaster areas.

The flooding in Iowa is being called the worst situation since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Your prayers, time, energy, and gifts are greatly needed and appreciated as this will be a long process of recovery for the various communities in Iowa.

 

 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 about 15 years ago.  He now is equipped to help with keen insight to the chaos and need.  I was serving a 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-trains-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 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 Jesus 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
319-232-4790  Church number—secretary is in Tu We Thu 8am-noon

319-404-3142  Cell phone for Pastor Sheryl & Team--

Volunteer Housing & Other coordinating.   Call this phone to arrange to stay at St. Paul's United Methodist Church.

Call this phone to hear what is going on "this week" and in the near future in Flood and Storms of 2008 Recovery as best as we know it. 

Call this phone to have us coordinate you with supervised work teams in this area that we know of who can use some more volunteers. 

Another number to hook you up with--319-429-0356 Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley Flood and Storm Recovery Centralized Number for Coordinating Volunteers and Needs for Black Hawk County--sometimes this also works for towns and areas nearby. 



Email: pastor@stpaulsumcwaterloo.com

Flood Info Links:

Iowa Conference United Methodist Church

Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

Iowa Concern  Hotline 1-800-447-1985 (connecting also to Project Recovery Iowa, including for getting un-stuck, taking the edge off, stress, and mental health,

www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/crisis.html

 

Project Recovery Iowa

 

Governor, Lt. Governor Urge Iowans to Take Advantage of “Project Recovery Iowa”

Mental health program aims to address mental health needs of disaster victims

 

DES MOINES—Today, Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge urged Iowans who need mental health services to use the Project Recovery Iowa program, a mental health program that provides free crisis counseling to Iowans affected by this year’s natural disasters.

“It’s been more than a month since our state was struck by historic flooding and severe weather.  And though the flood waters may have receded, the mental anguish and distress remain for thousands of Iowans,” said Governor Culver.  “As Governor, I am committed to returning life to normal in those communities affected, and that is why I encourage Iowans to reach out to the Project Recovery Iowa mental health program.  This free program will help those who have been affected get a sense of control back in their lives, and move us farther down the road to recovery.”

Through FEMA grants, the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) launched Project Recovery Iowa that engages local or regional counseling agencies to provide assistance in 29 of the hardest hit counties, but no Iowans who need help will be turned away.

“The effects of these floods will be felt for months and years to come, both physically and emotionally,” said Lt. Governor Judge.  “As a state, we must continue to work together to help those who have been affected heal the wounds of this disaster, and that is why this program is so important.”

In the initial wake of a disaster, people are relieved just to have survived. But the mood often changes when it becomes clear that government disaster assistance won’t cover the losses.

“The stress of a traumatic experience often takes weeks to surface, and we have to be mindful that children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable,” said Dr. Kelley Pennington, a specialist in the Mental Health and Disability Services section of the Iowa Department of Human Services. “We’ve had these counselors on the ground for weeks now and the feedback we’re getting is that people greatly appreciate the assistance. But the dynamics are changing and it’s all the more important for people to reach out now, for help.”

Project Recovery Iowa seeks to educate victims about disaster reactions, teaching them coping skills, assessing them for individual needs, and steering them to resources that may be helpful.

Program services are performed in survivor’s homes, shelters, temporary living sites, churches, or any place where the survivors feel comfortable.

To reach a counselor, call the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985.

###

Editor’s note: Project Recovery Iowa is being performed by eight counseling services, whose contact information is below:

• Abbe Center, 520 11th St, NW, Cedar Rapids, serving Linn, Jones, and Benton counties. (319) 398-3562.
• Backbone Area Counseling Center, 709 W. Main, Manchester, serving Allamakee, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette, and Winneshiek counties.  (319) 927-7330
• Broadlawns Hospital, 1801 Hickman, Des Moines, serving Polk County.  (515) 282-5752.
• Mideastern Iowa Mental Health Center, 507 E. College St., Iowa City, serving Cedar and Johnson counties. (319) 338-7884.
• Pathways Behavioral Health, 3362 University Ave., Waterloo, serving Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, and Floyd counties. (319) 235-6571.
• ResCare, 301 W. Burlington Ave., Fairfield, serving Des Moines, Lee, Louisa, Mahaska, and Wapello counties. (641) 472-1684.
• Mental Health Center of Tama County, 1309 S. Broadway, Toledo, serving Jasper and Tama counties. (515) 484-5234.
• Waubonsie Mental Health Center, Clarinda, serving Adams, Fremont, Mills, Page, and Union counties. (712) 542-2388.

 

John Miller, Chairperson  Black Hawk County Supervisors

Tim Hurley, Mayor City of Waterloo, Iowa

Jon Crews, Mayor City of Cedar Falls, Iowa

Chad Deustch, Mayr City of Evansdale, Iowa

Rick Lubben, Mayor City of LaPorte City, Iowa