Chris & Glen, Tyler & Trevor, 1216 3rd St. NW
By Jodi Harris – Chris will never forget her 40th birthday, because it turned out to be completely different than she had thought her milestone birthday would be. On that Friday, exactly one week after the devastating flood of 2008, she and her husband, Glen, were allowed to re-enter their home, for the first time, to assess the damage. Their house, located in the Time Check neighborhood, was damaged, far beyond repair. As they recalled the days before the flood, emotion crossed their faces as they told their story.
Chris had purchased the home for herself and her boys in 2002, before she and Glen were married. Tyler, 18, graduated from Prairie High School, in May; and Trevor, 15, still attends classes there. The boys are very athletically talented and both have won honors in wrestling and other sports. Glen and Chris were married in May of 2003.
Glen is an upbeat guy, who always has a mischievous smile and a humorous comment to share with his friends and coworkers. He never fails to make me laugh with his unique views of life’s everyday happenings. Chris, a soft spoken, quieter person, has a kind, warm-hearted smile. She works hard and is a supportive mother. Both are strong supporters of the boys’ activities and never miss their sports events.
Their home was a modest two story, with a garage in the back of the property. Glen enjoyed his garage and often detailed vehicles for friends and family as a hobby. With the boys getting older, the couple planned to sell their home and find something a bit larger. They had it for sale for a few months before the flood, but took it off the market in August. They decided to do some remodeling before they relisted it. Chris said they invested a few thousand dollars to remodel the bathroom, put a new floor in their kitchen, and recarpet the home. They also repainted the kitchen cabinets, finishing the work, just before the flood.
The week of the flood, they watched the news anxiously, unsure what to expect. On Wednesday, June 11th, as river crest predictions reached nineteen feet, they knew they had to get their basement emptied, as soon as possible. Both called work to say they would not be in, and began moving the contents of the basement to the first and second floors of their home. A handful of friends took time off work to help that day. By Wednesday afternoon, their employer sent a large moving truck and six men to move their washer and dryer and heavier items out to a storage space. Glen, who has a pair of shoes to match every outfit, moved about fifty pairs from the basement up to the kitchen floor, just to be safe.
As predictions became more serious, they strongly considered moving their furniture from first floor to their second floor, but neighbors, who had lived on the street much longer had been through previous floods, said the water would never get that high. Their house, sat slightly higher than most on their street, so they decided to leave everything on the first floor, and was running out of time, anyway. At the last minute, Chris asked Glen to grab their wedding album and move it to the second floor. He ran to the top of the steps and laid it on the second floor landing.
Cedar Rapids Police knocked on their door around 6:00 pm on Wednesday night, and told them they had to leave immediately. Grabbing enough clothing for just a few days, they had to leave with whatever they could carry. They were told to leave a white tee shirt on their front door as they left, to signify the property had been evacuated. Chris said the water was bubbling up through the manholes in their street as they drove away.
She figured they would be back in a day or two, after the threat of high water had passed. The family went to Chris’ parents’ home, near Westdale Mall, and moved their things into their finished basement. Her parents, Dee and Larry, are on the Board of Directors of The Salvation Army, and both are retired. Dee had been volunteering at the Red Cross most of the week, and Larry was helping at the Salvation Army doing whatever needed to be done, including driving the canteen truck after the flood.
They watched flood reports, on television, seeing clips of their neighborhood, hoping they would see their house, to get some idea of what to expect. Anxiously, everyday they headed to the checkpoint nearest to their home, to find out if they would be allowed to go see their house that day. By Sunday, Chris washed the few clothes they brought, realizing it may be much longer than they originally anticipated, before they could go back home. They felt fortunate to have a place to go, as they heard of hotels being filled to capacity in the area.
Glen, keeping his sense of humor, told me a funny thing that happened to him while staying with his in-laws. Up early one weekday morning, getting ready for work he was trying to be quiet, and was looking for the toothpaste in the bathroom. After searching everywhere, he finally located the tube, and hurriedly started to brush. The toothpaste stuck to his teeth like glue, and tasted terrible. As he took a closer look at the tube, he realized he had grabbed a tube of Desitin diaper rash ointment, which his mother-in-law kept, for use in her daycare business. He said it took quite awhile to get the ointment out of his mouth, and even after brushing with real toothpaste several times, could not get rid of the horrid taste. Chris laughed as she recalled the painful look on his face as he came out of the bathroom that morning. She was surprised he had told anyone about the incident.
On June 20th, Chris’ birthday, they received permission from the National Guard to enter the house. The damage was much worse than they expected, with water filling the home’s first floor, and rising almost half a foot on the second floor. The doors and windows had swelled shut from the river water, making them impossible to open. Glen had to break the windows on the first floor, to gain entry and allow the heat to escape, making it bearable for them to enter the house. There was no electricity so many areas of the house were dark. Chris recalled entering her home, seeing the furniture strewn throughout the rooms on the first flood. Nothing was in the same place as when they left. The refrigerator was tipped over, and the floor covered with slippery mud. It felt like an oven inside the house.
Glen, a group of family and friends, immediately started moving the heavy, mud-soaked furniture from the first floor outside. Chris, her mom, and friend, Julie, went upstairs to see what they could save. Their wedding album was gone, all the box springs were wet, and everything on the floor was lost. All their dressers, two computers and three televisions were also lost to the water. The clothes hanging in the closets were completely dry, so they took garbage bags, and stuffed them full of the clothing. Trevor, got a ladder, and climbed up to the second floor window. He took the bags and dropped them to others on the ground, who quickly filled their cars and vans with the clothing. Tyler was too upset to come to see the house that day.
Several hours later, Chris and Glen stood sadly in their front yard near of a mountainous pile of their belongings. The flood had changed the path of their lives, and they wondered what to do next.
The next couple of weeks were consumed with standing in lines and filling out forms for flood relief funds. They felt fortunate to have had flood insurance, but filing a claim also entailed extensive paperwork. They told me they were very thankful for all the help they received from the many organizations and friends and family.
Since the loss of their home, they have worked hard to rebuild their lives. They saved and cleaned all their boys’ wrestling awards and medals. They expressed gratitude to Prairie High School, for replacing Tyler’s diploma and his many certificates and awards which they were unable to save. Tyler’s graduation party was held at his grandparent’s home, and fortunately, all his pictures and graduation gifts were still there. The couple agreed they felt the greatest loss for their pictures and many irreplaceable items such as the clock they received as a wedding gift with their last name carved on it and their wedding pictures.
By July 3rd, Chris, Glen and Trevor, moved to a small apartment on the southwest side of town, near Prairie High School. Tyler stayed with his grandparents, until they find a new house, with more space. They are extremely grateful they were able to find an apartment, considering so many people needed to relocate after the flood. Once they knew they had a place to move to, their co-workers asked the couple to register at the Target wedding registry. They threw them a “Flood” shower to help them get what they needed to start over. Personally, I thought this was a fabulous idea.
Chris described their anxiety and frustration relating to the lack of communication from the City of Cedar Rapids, regarding whether their home would be included in the buyout. Just recently, when they applied for Iowa Jumpstart funds, they receive an answer. She said the City never communicated this information to them, but that the Jumpstart representative confirmed they would be included in the City buyout.
Now, several months post flood, they are looking toward the future. Iowa Jumpstart is working with Horizons Family Services, and have scheduled an appointment for the couple to meet with a financial counselor to determine if they can qualify for down payment funds for their new home. They don’t plan to move until after the first of the year, probably in the spring. They feel like they just got settled into the apartment, but will look forward to a new start in 2009. Glen says he can’t wait to get a garage again, and he will need to get some new shoes to put in his new basement. Chris looks forward to future birthdays to celebrate in a new home with a brighter future for herself and her family.
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2 comments November 23, 2008
Clara & Larry, 1861 Ellis Blvd NW
By Jodi Harris – Clara and Larry had planned a trip with their 1959 El Camino, leaving Wednesday, June 11th and returning on Saturday, June 14th. They had been invited to be part of Hot Rod Magazine’s “Five States in Five Days” tour and were scheduled to have their vintage El Camino photographed for the magazine. They were very excited about the trip.
The back yard of their home slopes down to the river and is a beautiful place to live. They would often walk down the hill to their patio, where they loved to watch the boats and the Cedar Rapids Ski Club practice and perform. Clara and Larry have enjoyed the location of their home and had a pond stocked with koi fish in their backyard. Many of the fish were large, some as big as sixteen inches long and many had pet names. Clara described their home as a sanctuary. Ellis Park is just up the street and they had the best of both worlds with their privacy and access to the beautiful park. Their home was built in 1912, and Larry has enjoyed living there since 1993, Clara joined him in 1999. The property had a boat garage and a second garage sat near the house.
Ironically, their home is not in the 500 year flood plain, because the property is over 200 feet long and the home is elevated higher than most of the bridges in downtown Cedar Rapids. Apparently, Mother Nature and the Cedar River did not consider those facts, when their property was overcome with flood water in June.
On Wednesday morning, before they left for their trip, the Linn County Engineers were in their back yard, near the boat garage. Larry asked about the probability of their property being flooded, but was assured the water would not get past the boat garage. They briefly considered canceling the trip, but had been looking forward to going for months, and felt reassured by the Engineers’ confidence.
They were enjoying the events of the trip and had not seen the news for a couple of days. Someone asked if they were from Cedar Rapids, and said the predictions of the flood were getting worse and worse. They were alarmed, when they finally saw the news. Predictions of the river crest were much higher than ever before.
Clara received a call from her daughter, telling them they should plan to come home, as their house would most likely be flooded. The news reports became more serious by the hour. They were about 2 ½ hours away, and decided to contact their neighbors to find out what was happening.
The news was not good; their neighbors told them to expect their basement to be full of water when they returned. The extent of the flooding was still unknown. They watched the news and heard their neighborhood, many parts of Cedar Rapids, and the entire town of Palo had been evacuated. The news reporter said the National Guard was not allowing residents to enter evacuated homes on Friday. The hotel rooms in the city were full too, so they decided to stay one more night, until Saturday morning. Clara said they cried and worried about the situation throughout the night. They returned to town on Saturday morning and were anxious to get into the house to assess the damage. They had to leave the car at Ellis Park and walk to their house, because the streets were blocked.
They opened the back door entering the kitchen. The odor hit them instantly, making their eyes burn. Larry described it as a heavy musty, almost sweet smell. Too shocked to react, emotionally, they knew there was no time to waste. First tackling the contaminated, mud soaked carpet to get it off the wood floors beneath. The weight of the water and mud made it almost impossible get it off the floor and out the back door, but they continued to struggle until they got it out. Looking back, they are thankful they got the floor coverings out so quickly, as it stopped the mildew and saved the floors. Many of their neighbors were not so lucky.
Their refrigerator was flipped on its back and was unplugged. Clara was immediately thankful she had the insight to clean all the food out of it, before they left. She had heard the electricity may be turned off, and decided to take the precaution. Part of their kitchen counter, was flipped on its side but their microwave was high enough that it was not damaged. The water had risen to just below their kitchen countertops.
The first floor was covered in heavy black, slimy mud and they had to hold on to whatever they could, to avoid falling on the slippery floor. Larry grabbed the hose and washed much of the mud down the basement stairs, since it was still half full of flood water. The sight of the first floor was devastating. It was an unimaginable mess. Their beautiful oak dining room table had collapsed in the middle of the room. Clara had a small, metal chair, used by her young granddaughter, when she helped Clara cook. It was under the table, and was the only thing supporting the heavy tabletop. The glue had given way to the water in all the joints of the table legs, causing it to collapse. They lost all their furniture on first floor, including a couch and love seat which sat amongst the ruins and a finished basement full of furniture, a storage room and Clara’s crafts. Surprisingly, their big screen TV, which was on the main floor, still worked. The water stopped just below the screen.
Their Harley and their boat were housed in the storage garages and were both lost to river mud. The pond and fish were gone and the back yard looked like a mud slide.
They did not have flood insurance, but felt fortunate to get financial support from FEMA, the many flood relief agencies and Toyota Financial Services.
They also feel fortunate to have a 36 foot motor home, which they were able to live in temporarily, until they could move back into the house. Clara said many everyday chores, such as washing dishes, was not easy during the transition. She had to take them up to the second floor of the house to wash them in the bathtub. Their modem for their computer was in basement, so they have been working on getting that replaced and getting their computer back into operation.
They have come a long way this summer, since June 13th, but still have a ways to go to get their home back to normal. They have taken the motor home back to the usual parking space, and have moved back into the house. She said that was one big step towards a full recovery.
In talking with her on the phone, to get a few more details, I was impressed at her positive comments about the recovery project. Larry was joking in the background, saying “Flood insurance is for wimps!” I guess if you can manage to keep your sense of humor through a disaster like the Flood of 2008, you probably can get through anything.
Add comment October 29, 2008
West Side Sewing Center’s Recovery – One Stitch at a Time
By Jodi Harris - As I entered the beautiful showroom at West Side Sewing, now temporarily located in the upper level of Westdale Mall, my mind flashed back to the day my mom gave me a beautiful new, top of the line, Husqvarna Viking sewing machine. It was my high school graduation gift, and she bought it at West Side Sewing Center. The price of my machine was $800 and I was thrilled to get such a fabulous gift. I still use that machine today, and remember the one-on-one training I received from the friendly staff, during the summer of 1979.
When I arrived for this interview, Dave Axline, owner since 1972, was talking with an older man with a cane near the front of the store. They were looking at a new machine, and seemed to be involved in a friendly conversation. The man, whose wife had apparently been a customer at West Side Sewing Center, many years before, had passed away. As his daughter, Shelley Cervantes, the 4th generation in the business, and I waited for Dave to begin the interview, Shelley told me this was the second time she had seen the man. He had appeared in the store, the day before they opened, in the midst of the frenzy as they worked to open the temporary location. He asked if the owner was available. Dave was not there, so Shelley came up front to greet him. He said he was sorry to hear about the loss of the old store and wanted to help. He gently clasped his hand over hers, filling it with five $100 bills. Momentarily stunned, she thanked him and told the kind man she could not accept the gift. “Sure you can” he said, and turned to walk away. She asked his name, and he said it didn’t matter, that he just wanted to help, and he was gone.
When Dave joined us, he said the man still wouldn’t provide his name, but told Dave, his wife had been a customer, and he wanted to help them, as they had helped her with her sewing. He wanted to donate a sewing machine to a family, who would get good use of it, and had lost their home in the flood. Dave was surprised, and again tried to get his name. The man smiled, and dodged the question. He said there was no need to get his name, and he would come back to pay cash for the machine, which had a price tag of over $1,200. Again, he disappeared to finalize arrangements to donate the machine to the family.
West Side Sewing Center is one of the many Cedar Rapids businesses hit hard by the flood of 2008. They lost their store at 418 First Street SW and a good share of what was inside. Dave and Shelley gave me the details of how they survived the disaster.
Dave said they had been at their 1st Street location for 81 years and had never been flooded, until Friday, June 13, 2008. He knew they would have to raise the merchandise, but as the crest of the Cedar River was predicted to be higher and higher, they decided to rent a truck and get as much out as possible, before it was too late. He, Shelley, their ten employees and friends worked quickly to fill the truck with new machines, new sewing machine cabinets, still in boxes, and fabrics. Looking back, Dave said he probably should have left the fabric behind, as the cost of their fabric inventory was worth a fraction of the cost of a new machine. But, as he said with a laugh, hindsight is 20/20 and he made the best decisions he could with the time he had.
Dave, Shelley and staff, got back into the store as soon after the flood as they could, only to find the river had destroyed all the customer machines in the shop for repair, many expensive repair tools, notions, and their entire Oreck Vacuum cleaner stock. The building was a total loss too. No one would have guessed the water would fill the building to the ceiling. They, like most businesses in the downtown area, did not have flood insurance.
The plan to survive was critical and had to begin without delay. Most of the stock they saved had been moved to Dave’s home, and the office was moved to Shelley’s home. The employees were working out of both locations, and Dave and Shelley were desperately trying to find a new, temporary home for the business.
At one point, Dave shared a story with me, which changed his entire mindset about the situation. One evening, after many long, exhausting days, working to clean out the flooded building, he was driving home. Exhausted, dirty, and ready for a shower, he was looking forward to collapsing into his comfortable bed for a good nights sleep. He was feeling understandably, sad and depressed about the losses he had endured. He told me his mind was racing, filled with uncertainty of what the future would hold for his business and employees. He questioned whether they could overcome the disaster and rebuild the family business. As he turned a corner, on his way home, he saw a young woman on her porch, crying softly. Near the curb of the home was a massive pile of trash. There was drywall, furniture, a baby crib and a pile of toys and baby items. The woman was so young, and his heart went out to her in the loss of her home. He wondered how she would make it through the disaster. The vision will never be forgotten and it made him realize how fortunate he was to have a house to go home to. It was a turning point for him, and presented the realization that things would be okay and they would overcome the losses and rebuild the business. The encounter turned his focus to all he had, and away from all he had lost, and renewed his spirit to forge ahead to rebuild the business to be even better than before.
Shelley was scheduled to be in Texas for the introduction of the newest, top of the line, Husqvarna Viking Designer Diamond sewing machine on June 19 and 20th, the week after the flood. West Side Sewing has been selling Husquvarna Viking machines for more than 50 years and the trip was an important one. Viking’s newest model is only introduced every four years, and the trip would provide her training to operate the new machine. She had planned to return and train her staff to operate and sell it to their many new and existing customers. The disaster threw up a roadblock and although she knew she would not be able to make the trip, she was determined to find a way to overcome the situation. Soon after the flood, the Viking Company contacted Dave and offered to do whatever they could to help the business recover. This offer sparked Shelley into action. She called the company back and asked if they could send a machine and someone to train her and the staff to operate it. Soon after the call, the company came through and flew a representative to Cedar Rapids, along with a new Designer Diamond machine. The training took place for Shelley and the staff, at her house.
Shelley knew they needed to take desperate measures to get this machine out to their customers as soon as possible, if they were to overcome their losses. She called around and booked the last conference room at the Mariott Hotel for a demonstration of the new machine, which had a $9,000 price tag. She and the staff invited customers who had expressed interest in upgrading their machines to the event. They held the demo on July 2nd and 3rd and although they didn’t even have invoices to write up the orders, it was a great success. They borrowed paper, pens, staplers and paper clips from the Mariott and sold an astounding 27 new machines! The new machine sales and trade-in machines literally put them back in business. Shelley said the timing was perfect and without the rollout of the new model, she was sure things would not have worked out so well.
If the Mariott had not had a room, Shelley said she would have booked a warehouse if she had to, but she was determined to find a way to get the business back on track. Their employees are like family, and they were not going to let them down. I was impressed with the positive, upbeat attitude and strong trust, apparent between father and daughter. Shelley has been involved in the business since 2000, and plans to lead it to 100 years of sales and service in Cedar Rapids. They have 19 more years to get there and Shelley and Dave are looking forward to the milestone.
The space at Westdale Mall was secured and they opened the new store within a matter of days after the disaster. The showroom is much smaller than the old one, but very appealing and inviting. The staff, obviously proud of the business, welcomed me with friendly smiles.
Not only has this family business survived, but they are planning to pay it forward by making personalized blankets, towels and pillow cases for children who lost their homes in the flood. Shelley is organizing a campaign called Operation “Recovering the Children from the Flood”. She and her staff will be accepting donations of fleece fabric, or fleece blankets, terry bath towels and pillowcases for the children. All donations must be new and unused, and they will also accept monetary donations for supplies. They will be holding several workshops this month through November, for those who wish to help make the gifts. The group hopes to personalize the gifts with initials and complete them for Christmas gifts for the kids. For more information call the store at (319) 365-3075.
A permanent home for West Side Sewing has not been located yet, but they are confident a great location will be found, when they are ready to move the business. If you are in the area, stop by and say hello to Shelley, Dave and the staff, as they will always have a smile to share with their customers, friends and the community.
7 comments September 30, 2008
A Community Partner and Great Place to Work
By Jodi Harris – Toyota Financial Services, a mighty partner in our community, provides ongoing financial and volunteer support for many, throughout the year. As Associates, we have many opportunities to volunteer, and are encouraged to help in the community as much as we can. Each and every year, we have enjoyed volunteering for the Junior Achievement program, Waypoint, The Madge Phillips Center, The Freedom Festival, The Boys & Girls Club and The Especially For You Race Against Breast Cancer, to name just a few. TFS also donated the official Freedom Festival vehicle in 2006. Our company truly leads by example.
As you enter the beautiful atrium at TFS, located on North River Road NE, you will instantly feel the pulse of positive energy the Associates generate. A bustle of excitement and energy fills the air as the warmth of the sun fills the sparkling atrium and wide open greenery adorned lobby. Looking up, you will enjoy a vision of three floors of open air to the ceiling.
To be a part of this first-class organization is considered by many to be a blessing, as it has been for me. I knew, the first time I stepped through the doors, I wanted to be part of this buzz of positive energy. My first impression was right on target.
The Central Customer Service Center in Cedar Rapids is managed by Joe Trabucco, who has a contagious smile and great sense of humor. Joe and his assistant, Tracy Bennett, do an outstanding job of directing and orchestrating a nearly flawless operation. They are extraordinary leaders who make our center a pleasant and fun place to work, everyday, no exceptions. They are truly amazing, personable, kind folks who always take a moment to listen, laugh and help. Employee suggestions are taken seriously and are often implemented in our centers and throughout the company. We are encouraged to give our input without hesitation, and our managers are always approachable and personable.
This summer, though, TFS Associates experienced the full scope of compassion of our company, like never before. From top management, reaching each Associate and throughout our community, the TFS Brand promise was kept. It began, as you might guess, the week of June 9, 2008, the days previous to the ravaging “Flood of 2008″.
I have been an Associate for nearly five years and have witnessed many challenges and successes during my tenure, but the company effort put forth during the flood of 2008 was truly inspiring. As the flood threatened Cedar Rapids, Joe Trabucco was on his way out of town on business, keeping a diligent eye on the news. The reports continued to worsen regarding the impending flood so he contacted Tracy to gather our center managers to prepare a disaster plan for our center and Associates. It was still extremely difficult to predict the scope of the flood, so a general plan was pulled together.
They started with the rental of several passenger vans to transport Associate volunteers into the community to sandbag. Associates were asked to volunteer for four hour shifts, if they were able. There were two shifts per day, one morning and one afternoon. Everyone was advised to bring a clean change of clothes to wear after their shift, since this was happening during the regular workday. Team Leaders were advised to start a list of Associates who would be directly impacted and may be in need of help moving their belongings. They also took names of those who might need time off to help close relatives. My name was on the second list, as my husband’s parents were impacted and evacuated.
Just two days into the week, it was clear that things would be much worse than expected. By the end of the week, Edgewood Road and I-380 were closed, both major arteries used by many Associates, making it nearly impossible for many to get to work. Attendance occurrences for those who arrived late were waived. Many people were absent as they defended their homes against the threatening flood. As Associates were identified who would be forced to evacuate, groups of volunteers were dispatched to help move furniture and entire households to save as much as possible. Not only were there many Associates living in the flood zone, but many lived in Palo.
On Thursday, we were told to call the emergency information line before we came to work on Friday. The management team met again to reassess what needed to be done. The center was subsequently closed on Friday and Saturday of that week.
TFS has a strict attendance policy, as do most call centers. For the next week, all Associates who had been hit by the flood, were excused with pay. If we had parents, siblings, or other close family members who were affected, we were allowed to go and help, with pay. Those who were able to get to work received comp time for all hours worked, the first week after the flood.
When we arrived at the center on Monday, there were rented porta potties in the back of the building along with hand sanitizer, to help preserve the city water, which was threatened by the flood. TFS provided breakfast and lunch to all Associates in the cafeteria, for the entire week. The dress code was temporarily “Super Casual”, to help those who didn’t have many clothes left to choose from. Those of us who were not directly affected donated to the “Super Casual” fund to raise money for the flood victims. In return for $40, we were allowed to dress “Super Casual” with hats, shorts and flip flops for the rest of June, July and August. This fund, along with an Associate sponsored bake sale raised over $14,000, for flood impacted Associates.
Hundreds of cases of bottled water were provided to everyone and a food and supply drive began in our lobby for community shelters. A supply room was also set up for anyone who needed anything from shampoo to toothpaste to canned food items. Impacted Associates were encouraged to come and get whatever they needed. Many had a difficult time accepting the help they so desperately needed, as this was the first time they had ever been is such a situation.
As the week passed, it became clear there were several Associates who had lost everything. There were also many who had significant damage and faced catastrophic repair expenses. Many worried that they would be financially devastated by the crisis.
The week of June 23rd, management met again. Everyone wanted to do something to help. The Associate bake sale was organized and was a great success. Our corporate offices in Torrance, California and sister centers in Baltimore, Maryland and Chandler, Arizona had similar fund raisers. TFS matched all donations up to $500 at 100%. Associate flood victims were encouraged to apply for financial assistance offered by TAERP, the Toyota Associate Emergency Relief Program.
On Tuesday, June 24th, our President and CEO, George Borst, along with Dave Crandall, our former Cedar Rapids Center manager, now Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, and three other Vice Presidents, came to Cedar Rapids from Corporate headquarters in Torrance, California. They wanted to show their support and meet with small groups of Associates to hear about how the flood had affected our lives. I was fortunate have been at one of those meetings. George said he had been on a business trip in Japan the week of the flood, and could not sleep due to the time difference. He told us he had his television on and heard about the flooding in Cedar Rapids on the World News. He described his sadness and shock as he saw pictures of our flood ravaged community. The next morning, he was again shocked by the caring inquiries he received from the Japanese dignitaries about the TFS people in Cedar Rapids.
After the meeting in Cedar Rapids, I shared some pictures I had taken of the flooding, including one of the downtown Dairy Queen, with only the signpost visible above the water. He said this was one of the pictures he saw on the news while in Japan. I gave him the photos to take back to share at our corporate offices in Torrance. The opportunity to meet Mr. Borst and hear the experiences of other Associates made this meeting a memory, of which I will never forget.
The management at our center continued to support our Associates by renting a twenty-six foot Penske truck, which they had to get from Davenport, Iowa, since there were none available in the immediate area. They also provided two Toyota Tundras for moving purposes. Two-thousand moving boxes were donated and given to anyone who had a need for them. Our H.R. department worked closely with a relocation company to assist Associates in finding new homes quickly. There were also on-site and off-site counseling services available for us and everyone was encouraged to take advantage of the free service. Once again, attendance occurrences were waived for flood victims. No vacation time was deducted and they received full pay, for the three weeks after the flood.
Continuing in their commitment to our community, TFS donated $200,000 to the American Red Cross Grantwood Area Chapter for flood relief. They also donated two vehicles; a 2008 Toyota Sienna van and a 2005 Toyota Sequoia SUV, which were delivered just days after the flood by Joe and Tracy.
Finally, most impressive to me, TFS employees raised flood relief funds, which were matched by TFS Corporate, totaling an astounding $182,309.22, which was divided among the Associates who lost their homes to the flood. This reflects the TFS Brand our company represents, and is the very reason I feel proud to walk through the doors into that beautiful atrium every workday. Thanks TFS, and the people who make it such a fantastic place to spend my days. I can only hope that other companies will use this as an inspiration to do as much, for as many, as often as they can.
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1 comment September 9, 2008
Tyler’s “Tour de Flood”
By Jodi Harris – Tyler Smothers is a very special young man. He was born at St. Luke’s Hospital on May 29, 1984, with a rare form of Spina Bifida called Encephelocele.
He had an opening on his spine at the base of his brain stem and his doctors were unsure if he would live. Just after birth, he was flown to University Hospitals in Iowa City for surgery. Doctors implanted a shunt in his brain at four weeks of age. Tyler fought desperately to live, for the first eight weeks of his life. As a result of a very fragile respiratory system, he had to be on oxygen 24/7 from birth until the age of four, and used it at night, and when he was sick, until age six. Now, at age 24, he still contends with frequent respiratory problems.
Tyler has endured 12major surgeries and is in a wheelchair most of the time. He also receives all fluids through a gastrostomy button and uses an apnea machine when he sleeps to monitor low heart beat and periods when he stops breathing. In addition, he has a mild mental disability.
In spite of these issues, his mother, Cindy, says he has always had a fantastic zest for life. He loves sports and has used a modified bike since he was three years old. The activity works as part of his therapy to keep his muscles moving. Cindy says his family often takes him to Cedar Lake to ride a lap around the lake. She shared some great pictures of Tyler with me. Most were taken on his bike, which is a sport he truly loves.
Cindy told me they have nearly lost him many times to health issues, but he continues to amaze his doctors at University Hospitals. She describes his life as a true miracle powered by his positive attitude and drive to help others. He continues to inspire her with his kindness in volunteering and helping others whenever he can.
Tyler’s life is enhanced by his job, through Options of Linn County and many programs funded and organized by the Arc of East Central Iowa. The Arc has provided him and his family with some great things such as respite care, (which provides a break for his family caregivers), and various social programs, which help fulfill his special social life. The Arc has been the high point in much of Tyler’s life.
So, on June 13, when the flood overtook their downtown office, located at 680 Second Street SE, Tyler decided he wanted to help. As he watched hour after hour of flood coverage, his anxiety grew, which fueled his need to help.
His dad, J.J., had knee surgery this summer, so one evening when the family was at St. Luke’s Hospital making a visit, they helped Tyler brainstorm a way to help the Arc. He loves to ride his bike, so he wanted to do something involving a bike ride. Someone was flipping through the channels on the television and something was mentioned about Tour de France. Jokingly, someone suggested Tyler should call it “Tour de Flood 2008″. The idea sounded great so, with the help of his family, the planning began.
The date was set for Aug. 10, and Tyler decided he could ride his bicycle, which looks like an adult sized trike, around The Cedar Lake Trail to raise funds for the organization. He wanted it to be a challenge, so he decided to set a goal to ride three times around the trail, rather than his usual single lap. He knew it would be difficult, and figured since the usual trip takes about 45 minutes, that it would take him about three hours.
He had never done this before, but backed by his family, he started to gather donations for the ride.
Cindy and J.J. have three other children; Joshua, 27; Erica, 20; and Samantha, 17. The family dubbed “Team Tyler” stepped up to the plate to help him promote the event.
Tyler and his family hoped he might raise a couple of thousand dollars to help the Arc. But once the word got out, it spread like wildfire.
The Arc thought, with a bit of promotional help, he could make it to $5,000.
Delaine Peterson, Executive Director of The Arc, said the motto for Tyler’s ride has been to “Flood The Arc with Donations”, and a link from the Arc’s website www.arceci.org was added to help him gather donations. Did someone say FLOOD? The donations flooded in and suddenly, it looked like he may hit $10,000!
When the day finally arrived, the weather was warm, sunny and perfect for his ride. A crowd of friends and family came to cheer him on, and the media turned out too. It seemed everywhere he looked, there were cameras. Tyler’s family had special “Team Tyler” t-shirts made for the event, in his favorite Hawkeye colors. Before the race, Tyler was quoted as saying, “Three laps will definitely be a long ride. But I’m hoping I can do it to help rebuild the Arc.”
He started his first lap just after 11:00 a.m. and a couple of hours later, he had reached his goal! It was a great accomplishment and an outstanding example of how a special young man and a great idea can make a difference.
Now, a few weeks after the ride, the donation tally has climbed to over $15,000 and funds are still coming in!
Tyler is a truly amazing example of how one person can make a such a positive difference in our community. Thanks, Tyler, for setting the bar so high for the rest of us. While we were all thinking about it, you went out and did it! You are a great inspiration to all of us.
Donations can still be made at www.arceci.org or mailed to The Arc of East Central Iowa, 680 2nd Street, SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401.
This blog entry was reported and written by Jodi Harris. You can find out more about Jodi, here.
2 comments August 24, 2008
Jacki & Greg, 526 1st Avenue NW
By Jodi Harris – Jacki and Greg were still newlyweds, married on August 4, 2007, at the time of the flood, almost a year later on June 13, 2008. They had moved from Cedar Rapids to Stanwood because it was about halfway between Cedar Rapids, where she works and Davenport, where Greg worked. Greg changed jobs in April, so they found a nice home to rent in Cedar Rapids. They moved in early April, and were thrilled to have found a nice place to call home. The house was located at 526 1st Avenue NW, right next to the parsonage of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Jacki is my friend and coworker at Toyota Financial Services.
She was out of town the week of June 7th, working as a camp counselor in Washburn, Ill. Something she does every summer. On June 11, she and some other counselors were having lunch together when a staff member from Des Moines was telling everyone about flood evacuations in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. Jacki became worried and called Greg to find out what he thought about the possibility of their house being flooded. He felt they were safe, as the forecasted crest of the Cedar River was 25 feet. Jacki trusted his judgment, but asked if he could move their new TV to the second floor. She also thought it would be good to move Greg’s grandmother’s bibles, as they were irreplaceable. He moved those items, still feeling like there was no chance they would be directly affected by flood waters, but he didn’t want her to worry.
Another day passed, and Greg got word that they had to evacuate. He grabbed Sylvester, their cat, packed up the car with clothes for the weekend, and drove to Jacki’s parents home in Wenona, IL. Jacki’s mom, Debby, started following news reports, and became alarmed when she read about the flooding of St. Pat’s Church. As she followed the situation online, it became apparent that Jacki & Greg’s house would be affected. The crest reports became higher and higher, and they helplessly waited and watched. Jacki and Greg stayed at her parents’ house, wondering what they would find when they were allowed to go back into the house.
On Thursday, June 12, Jacki received a text message from a friend, saying that she saw their house on the news. That was the first indication that things would be much worse than they had ever imagined.
Finally, on Sunday, June 15, they left Illinois to go home. Normally, a three hour drive, it took seven hours due to flood detours. Once they arrived back in Cedar Rapids, they went to Greg’s sister’s home in Marion to stay temporarily.
Still unable to even drive by their home, they continued to anxiously wait and wonder. They said the stress of the wait was intense.
Jacki thought she would have to go to work on Monday, but Toyota Financial Services was closed on Saturday, June 14 and Monday the 16th. She went to work on Tuesday, still unable to see their house. On Wednesday, 1st Avenue was opened and she and Greg drove by the house for the first time. They were still not allowed to enter, and were astonished at the height of the water line on the house. Their deck in the back yard had been ripped from the house and was now flipped around and sat farther back in the yard. Someone else’s deck, which was only about 8″ tall, had landed where the old 4 foot deck had been attached to the house. The back door was about 3 foot higher than the platform of the shorter deck.
Finally, on Wednesday evening, they saw their address on the Corridor Recovery list. There was no placard color assigned to the house yet. On Thursday, they were able to enter the house and see the devastation. All three entry doors were swelled shut, so they had to force the back door open, and climb into the house by using a chair to stand on to enable them to enter the door, now 3 foot off the ground.
What they saw was devastating. Jacki described the scene as a black soot covered disaster. They entered into the kitchen which was now hard to recognize. Their refrigerator was flipped over on it’s back, and the dining room table and the sofa had floated about 10 feet from living room. Ironically, the remote from their new TV, never got wet. It was on top of the upright couch, and it still worked. The dining room table was still in place, but was trashed.
Jacki’s grandma’s antique desk was lost. It was full of her memories and keepsakes including high school and college pictures, old children’s books wanted to save, and prize ribbons from art contests and 4H. She said when they tried to move the desk, it collapsed into a heap of soggy lumber.
When I asked how she felt emotionally, she said I cried for a few minutes, then realized we had so much to do in a very short time, and there was no more time to stop and grieve.
Jacki was fortunate to be able to borrow a large rental truck, which TFS had rented for use by Associates during the aftermath of the flood. So, on Friday, they began moving everything from the second floor of the house out. They opened the window on the front porch and removed the screen to enable them to get their belongings out easier. Jacki’s parents came to help and several coworkers came too. The house had a layer of mud coating the entire first flood, making it difficult and dangerous to walk on the floor. She said it was like trying to walk on a surface covered with cooking oil. They literally skated through the house to the stairs to get their valuables out of the second floor. Time was of the essence, so there was not a minute to waste. They had purchased a new memory foam bed when they moved to the house, and had to buy a huge roll of plastic wrap from Menards to protect it. They folded the king sized mattress in half, like a sandwich, and wrapped the plastic wrap around it to keep it folded. This enabled them to get it out through a door, which they had to forcefully open.
Every piece of clothing, bedding, rugs and curtains had to be washed. Two other coworkers volunteered to wash them for the couple. There were over fifty loads of laundry to be done.
Jacki was overwhelmed! Emotions were raw, stress was high, and she was physically and emotionally exhausted. Greg had left for work and the realization that they were truly not going to be able to return to the house, suddenly hit her like a jackhammer.
Everyone was asking her to tell them where to move things, and they were trying to keep an inventory of items they had to throw out. It was all just too much to handle! She left the chaos, went into their now empty bedroom and sat down and cried. Her supervisor from work, Kristy, and her son showed up in the midst of the moment. Kristy gave her a much needed hug, which made the tears come faster.
She was sad, mad, tired and worried, but after a few minutes, she realized she had to move on, and leave the tears behind. She knew she had to get back to work. So, she took a deep breath, wiped her tears and moved forward, once again.
They moved temporarily, to a church parsonage on the northwest side of Cedar Rapids. They had the lower level and another family stayed upstairs in the split foyer home. They all shared the kitchen. Their life was in limbo and they had a million decisions to make at once. They stayed there for about two weeks as they searched for a permanent place to move. They told me they felt extremely fortunate to find a new apartment on Rushmore Drive NE, as quickly as they did. They moved to the new place on week of July 4th. Jacki’s parents again came from Illinois to help them move. Their third move in a matter of three weeks.
The couple said, looking back, they were very lucky that so many of their things were on second floor, and they received assistance from several organizations including Toyota Associate Emergency Relief Program (TAERP), The Red Cross, Taiwan Tzu Chi Foundation Buddist Group, and a small amount from FEMA, which they used for the deposit on the new place. Jacki’s friends at work also donated new laundry baskets filled with cleaning supplies, paper products and hygiene products. She said it is just so hard to lose all those things. “You just don’t realize how much was lost until you need something. You would go to clean the bathtub and realize, Oh right, I don’t have any Softscrub anymore….”
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Add comment August 18, 2008
Neumann: Thousands of stories to be told
By Doug Neumann – I volunteered to write the day I saw The Gazette was starting this community recovery blog. I thought it was a fantastic idea. Communication has been such a challenge in these post-flood days, and we need more vehicles to let people know about what has and will happen. There are – literally – thousands of stories yet to be told. And yet, given this opportunity to write, I also have been paralyzed. Too many days have passed without my first attempt at contributing to this blog. With a thousand stories to tell, it’s just so difficult to know where to begin. And add to that the fact that things, even now, continue to change by the day or even the hour. On some days what seemed critical the day before is now irrelevant, and what seemed an afterthought the day before is now suddenly all-consuming.
So, enough of the excuses. Here’s what’s on my mind right now.
I’m enthused and motivated by some great stuff that has happened over the past week or so. The Downtown Farmers’ Market returned last Saturday with a big crowd filled with appreciative, happy patrons. It was an important day in the recovery process. That was followed six days later with a much-better-than-expected crowd at our Rebuild Reunion Luncheon where some 800 people came to celebrate that their business has returned downtown. We’re making progress on restoring the benches and other streetscape elements that make downtown so beautiful. And we continue to add names daily to our list of businesses that have decided to return to downtown (the list at www.rebuilddowntowncr.org is more than 200 strong now).
These kind of events really serve to lift spirits and get people through the tough days. And there are still many tough days as businesses grapple with steam rates that could quadruple this winter, with debris hauling bills that no one is sure who will pay, with the uncertainty of not knowing which neighbors will return and which have decided the road to recovery is too long for them to travel.
Let me start with that, just to get things going. And – if The Gazette will continue to have me – I’ll continue to try to tell some of those thousand stories, little by little.
Add comment August 11, 2008
I’m proud of our city
By Jodi Harris – It would be easy for those of us who were not directly impacted by the flood of 2008 to believe that things are on the way to whatever normal was, before the flood. However, if we watch the news or read the papers, we realize there is much to be done, rebuilt, and repaired, in order to get back to business. Not only is there still a long road ahead of many residents and business owners, but the cost is astronomical for most.
If you have ever considered starting a small business, you know that the statistics are not favorable for success in the first months and years of start-up. It is very much like the chances of losing weight and keeping it off for the rest of your life. If your business happened to be located in the flood affected area of Cedar Rapids, on June 13, 2008, the chances of survival seem slim to none. With that being said, no one has given up and as I read The Gazette every day, I am pleasantly surprised by the many inspiring stories of recovery of our small businesses of our community. A few of which, I will have the opportunity to write about, in the upcoming weeks. The spirit of Cedar Rapids has shown to be resilient and it appears statistics don’t really matter to anyone at this point. The community has rolled up their sleeves and tackled the enormous task of recovery. Not only have I heard and witnessed such a rally, but I’ve truly gained a pride, which I have never felt before. I am proud to say I am from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the place I was born and raised, the place I will be laid to rest, someday.
I am a customer service representative who speaks to people throughout the country everyday. Often, people will ask where they are calling or where I am.
When I respond with Cedar Rapids, Iowa, they know about the flood and offer their sincere concern for our residents. It has given me a new perspective as I hear about disasters in other parts of the country. I now listen more carefully, with a more compassionate, open heart, and often with tears of sadness for the many people experiencing hardship,, throughout our country. I know there are so many people, like those in our community, who have had staggering losses due to things that have happened, which were out of their control.
Witnessing the devastation and sadness on the faces of the victims of this disaster, I also see the kindness, caring, compassionate community we are so fortunate to live in. I see that the local economy has been stimulated by the sales of so many things that we need to recover from the flood. I see the FEMA dollars used in our community for all the necessities of our neighbors. I hear stories of the nameless recovery workers and volunteers who just show up where they are needed, everyday.
I see many businesses starting over, in new locations, in spite of the cost. The unwavering hope on their faces, that things will soon be better. I see churches, businesses, organizations and charities doing all they can for our community without expecting anything in return. It is truly a great place to live and work, here in our community. I would highly recommend to anyone, anywhere, to move here and experience our interest in one another as neighbors, friends, and co-workers. I’m too blessed to be stressed, and I hope that whatever small contribution I can make, will help one of our neighbors and leave a smile on a face who didn’t have one before.
Thanks everyone, for helping me put the really important things back into perspective and for helping me realize a new pride that I have never experienced before the flood of 2008.
Cedar Rapids is truly a great community.
Add comment August 11, 2008
Flood of memories
By Jodi Harris – It is obvious that those who experienced losses during the summer of 2008, will never forget the devastation they have endured. As a resident of the community for the 47 years of my life, I can only describe my feelings as a bystander.
I did not lose my home, business, or possessions, but in some ways, as I drove through what was left of downtown Cedar Rapids, and the Time Check area, I felt as if I had been robbed of my community. Although I knew that the CRPD cautioned against sight-seeing in the flood damaged areas, I had a nagging urge to go see for myself, the damage caused by the flood. My husband refused to take part in the journey to view the devastation, so I took my mother, and we drove to the Ellis Blvd strip, very near where my grandparents lived when I was a kid. I had to see for myself, what had happened to the area, in spite of the pictures on TV and the excellent coverage by The Gazette.
I was not prepared for what I saw when I got there. I felt tears well up in my eyes as I viewed the widespread destruction. The sadness on the faces of the people, seemed to resemble what I saw when I sat, distressed, watching the coverage of Hurricane Katrina, a few years ago on TV. The people of my community appeared completely exhausted, clothes covered in dirt, wearing gloves, masks, long pants and long-sleeved shirts, in spite of the heat and humidity. The heartbroken people who had worked for days without a break, had grief on their faces. A large sign with a message scrawled across it, “Help of Leave!” , snapped me back to reality. What was I doing there? Why did I need to see this for myself? What could I do to help? I felt a wave of shame and helplessness come over me. We were following a Salvation Army truck through one of the devastated streets. People were flocking to the truck to get hot meals. Another truck distributed cleaning supplies and first aid. People appeared to be operating under a robotic trance. For a moment, it seemed like a horrible dream, but no one was asleep.
After I delivered my mother to her condo in Marion, I became lost in thought, wondering what I could do to make a difference in someone’s recovery. Again, I felt useless, and compelled to do something to help. My husband’s parents and young niece, who live on 4th Street SW, had been evacuated in the middle of the previous night and were at the Motel 6 in the southwest part of town. Stopping at an intersection near my home in Marion, I saw a sign at a church. It had the answer. It said “Do what you can, for as many as you can, for as long as you can.”
As soon as I got home, I started to cook. I had invited the misplaced family members over for dinner the next day, and I filled my crockpot full of food to send back to the hotel. I baked, and baked, because it was what I could do to help. It gave me a purpose in the recovery. Once I got started, I decided not to stop. I made goulash, which I put into disposable serving bowls. I gave it to anyone I knew had been affected by the flood. I made chicken and noodles and sent home food with anyone who could get it to someone who might need a home cooked meal. In all, I gave away about forty, family sized servings of food. I also baked cookies, bars and anything I had the ingredients to cook. I’d get home from work and cook until I went to bed. My husband stood by, wondering if I’d ever stop cooking. It was the therapy I needed to help in the way I knew I could. Over the following weeks, several of the bowls were delivered back to my desk with kind notes telling me just how wonderful it was to have a home cooked meal in the midst of the endless work involved for so many. One young girl in a nearby department, whose elderly parents lost their lifelong home in the tornado in Parkersburg, came to me with a hug and a smile, saying that the darn goulash was the best thing that happened to her and her family in the entire month of June. So, do what you can, for as many as you for as long as you can… It truly will help not only those who need it, but it will help you too!
Add comment August 8, 2008
1524 6th St. N.W. died in the floodwaters
By Jan Holten – Standing in the three feet high of weeds that has grown in my ex-tidy yard, hit me really hard, for now I realize the death of my home.
The main frame of the old house was erected in 1905. In the district known as the Hall edition. It was a great home for that era and the owner was a well known Street Car Conductor.
As time went on the house accepted with great character a beautiful , new kitchen area, a front porch, then a back porch enclosed.
The Deed and Abstract shows evidence that several people occupied and owned this nice dwelling. It tells many interesting events during the 103 year reign. The basement, had great flood walls, that had been expertly built after the Flood of 1923. So this magnificent home had endured great trials, during it’s life long standing on this spot on earth.
Our occupancy began in 1966. We first rented it and then after a year, we bought it. It needed someone who would clean its old face and make it shine again. Other beautiful buildings were added and trees. One tree that grows elegantly in the backyard is a Burr Oak tree. It is the State Tree that represents the State of Iowa. It was started from an acorn. Now standing 8 feet tall. The productive Cherry tree has given us so much fruit and jelly’s. But it now stands wounded with major sap lose.
The Pine that came from Canada, stands drooped over and has major sap lose. The neatly kept small buildings are destroyed. Sheet rock falling off and mold all over. The house as I stand in the weeds and look at it, has died.
Cedar Rapids police told us there was a mandatory evacuation order. Thinking that the water would not get high, we left all our wonderful personal belongings behind in the old house. We figured that the house would stand strong and endure whatever.
Little did we realize that the elegant old house would try to endure eleven feet of surface water, swirling with heavy current water from the Cedar River. That does not include the eight feet of water held in the basement.
On June 11 we left through the backdoor. The water in the front was coming up quickly from the sewer on O Avenue. By the time we decided to leave the water was already up to our front steps. I should have recognized that sign, as not being good, but I still continued to think it would not be so bad.
We went to the Marion Motel, with much regret. June 12, was showing heavier water being spilled over the levee, rushing water and pushing everything to the South. The current was heavy and the water was deep.
On June 13, it was major and this is the day our house died in the Flood of 2008. For eight days, we were not allowed to enter into the drowned house. We could not help it in any way and it was at the mercy of the Flood waters.
Finally we were allowed to go back to the house that we had loved since 1966. Walking through the muddy doorways and seeing the guts of the house was a total shock. The smell was horrible. It had not started to rot yet. But the house was dead.
The inside and out, was total despair. Our family all gathered to try to save the dead house, pulling out all it’s guts and trying to stop the decay of mold. The house was gutted, but the dead house was starting to show more mold in the beams that had been erected 103 years ago. The foundation was showing strain on the north wall.
Standing here on August 4, tears flow easily, because the full realization that the house is gone. The memories are here, but the house is gone. It did not die from old age, or neglect, but it died from the ravaging waters of the Cedar River, that was only one block away.
So what do us that own this ex-worthy old dwelling do now? We need the expertise of the City of Cedar Rapids to properly bury this old house. We don’t want to just let it stand here, looking dead, but we need to act responsibly and bury this dead house.
The City can use this land to develop something beautiful. Time Check, goes way back. We can bury the dead, smelling houses and erect a monument, giving tribute to the Time Check Area.
I and others are asking the City of Cedar Rapids to buy the house and continue to plan Great things for that area.
On August 5, I came back to my dead house and all the neighboring houses are dead. It is a graveyard of dead houses. No one was home. The doors are wide open and no one is going in. The emptiness consumes the entire Time Check area. Time to move on and forget. But it is not easy.
- By Jan Holten
2 comments August 6, 2008
