Rebuild taking shape

MEDORA - Medora's pain is strong, but its resiliency is much stronger.

More than 50 flood victims from Jackson County's smallest municipality gathered Monday night at the Carr Township Conservation Club to learn how they are going to rebuild their homes and their lives after last month's near-record flooding.

Medora as well as other parts of Jackson County, including the west side of Seymour, sustained severe damage when waters from the East Fork of the White River rose out of its banks, cresting at nearly 21 feet. Many homes and businesses were damaged, and in some cases destroyed by flood waters.

Representatives from the Medora Community Lions Club, the American Red Cross, State Bank of Medora and Jackson County United Way as well as county government attended Monday night's meeting to provide victims with information on what help is available and the steps they need to take to get assistance.

A similar meeting for flood victims is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. today at Cortland Elementary School.

Kim Hodges, president of the Medora Lions Club, offered hope to those who attended the meeting but said he didn't want those hopes to be unrealistic. The Lions Club has been active in flood relief efforts in the area.

"We are here to help those who need help," he said. "We can help you rebuild, but you are going to have to help us. We can't do it all for you."

Hodges announced several churches, including the Brownstown Ministerial Association, made up of 15 congregations, have volunteered to adopt families affected by the flood. The Friends ‘n' Family Program will allow churches to work one-on-one with a family to help meet its individual needs, however small or great.

"Some need a lot and some need a little," Arann Banks, health and safety director with Jackson County's Red Cross said. "The adopt-a-home idea is going to allow the churches and organizations to help with those needs. These are good people with good hearts that want to get you back up and running."

Banks said in order to be helped, people need to list their needs.

"Don't let pride hold you back," she said. "Write down everything you need, whether it's as small as toys for your kids to something as big as a new house."

There were many forms for residents to fill out Monday night. By listing their needs, Banks said, families would be matched with congregations based on how big of a project they face.

"If you are needing construction to your home, that would be considered a large project," she said. "Once someone is matched, the church or organization will work with the family to design a work plan. You're going to get a lot of elbow grease out of this. There are no promises and no guarantees. So don't ask for them and don't accept them. We are doing the best we can."

Dennis Wayman, president of State Bank of Medora, said the bank is there to help the community through the rebuilding process.

"We will help you fill out forms and applications, answer questions, help you keep track of expenses, and if you want, manage the assistance money you are receiving," he said.

Wayman recommended people put FEMA and other assistance checks in a separate bank account to keep finances straight.

Ruth Ann Rebber, executive director of Jackson County United Way, said the organization is "trying to figure out how to make Jackson County the best place it can be after all this is over."

"We need to know what your immediate needs are, like food, water, clothing, a place to stay," Rebber said. "And then we are going to work together to solve some of the long-term housing problems."

County Commissioner Monte Streigel said he has been working with contractors and builder groups and was able to work out a deal that would save people up to $15,000 on a manufactured home.

"We can get these homes for $48,000 and have them built in three weeks if we do a group purchase," Streigel said. "I think if we stay united on this we could end up with quite a few new homes here."

Some people have minor damage to homes such as water in crawl spaces that they can't get out themselves. Others, like the Miller family and Patty Bowman, have lost everything.

"After the flood, we thought we could replace just the floors," Bowman said, her eyes welling up with tears. "But when we started ripping things out, the walls fell in."

Bowman has lived in Medora for the past 3½ years, having grown up in the Brownstown area. It may not seem like a long time, but to Bowman, "it's the only place that has ever felt like home to us."

"That's the house I rocked my grandbaby in," she said. "It's a part of me that's not there anymore."

Bowman said she had been living in a camper on her property because she didn't want to leave, but she had to return the camper to its owner Monday.

Now she doesn't know where she's going to stay.

It's only been three weeks since the devastating floods of 2008, but for many it feels like a lifetime has gone by as they wait to hear how much financial assistance they will get from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Some have already received checks from FEMA and are confused by what to do with the money. Chris Miller and his wife, Debra, wish that was their problem.

"They've already turned us down," Chris said of the family's FEMA application. "We don't have a penny."

Chris said when he and his wife purchased the property there was a main residence and an outbuilding that existed. Because the primary residence was in such bad condition, the family moved into the small outbuilding and began to renovate it into a living space.

"We were almost done with it and now it's gone," Debra said, wiping tears from her eyes.

The Millers and Bowman agreed they wouldn't be able to get through their situation if it wasn't for the Medora community and all the volunteers who have helped.

"I don't know what we would have done," Debra said. "We don't want people to think we're asking for a handout, because we're not. We just want what we had before."

"We want restoration," Chris added.

But through the tears, both the Millers and Bowman haven't lost their smiles and faith.

"I still have a lot to be thankful for," Bowman said. "This community is amazing."