VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Carter County is experiencing a flood of a different kind as volunteers wade into the enormous task of helping nearly 200 homeowners and almost 40 businesses begin cleaning up from record-setting high water.
Helping hands are reaching out from across the region and the nation, with between 200 and 300 people expected over the weekend to assist with the effort, according to presiding county commissioner Don Black.
Black spoke Thursday during what has become a nightly community meeting to touch base, answer questions and make announcements. The meetings come with dinner for flood victims, volunteers and other residents, served up at the Van Buren Youth and Community Center.
Representatives from the federal and state emergency management agencies attended the meeting to answer questions, arriving during the day Thursday to begin visiting properties. The data they collect will help determine if a federal disaster declaration is issued, which would open up more types of assistance and money for victims.
This recovery effort doesn't come with promises that all of the problems will be solved, Black told about 150 people from Van Buren, Fremont and other affected sections of Carter County.
But it does come with the guarantee that the county commissioners, sheriff's department and other officials will do everything they can, he said.
They want recovery to happen, Black said.
"We hope it does. We're going to pray that it does, for each and every one of you and ourselves," he said, as heavy rain began to fall outside.
No one has been left untouched by this disaster, said county sheriff Rick Stephens, who has an employee who lost everything in the flood. Everyone has family or friends that were impacted, he said.
In the absence of a federal declaration, faith-based and non-profit relief groups are already helping residents tear down, so they can rebuild.
A Grandin, Mo., church group stripped the first floor of Barbara Rogers home to the studs. Water filled the basement and was seven feet high on the main level of her two-story gray house near the Jolly Cone after flooding April 30.
She and her husband want to repair the century-old home, but they've been kept busy helping out their neighbors. Rogers is the administrator for the local nutrition center, which is providing breakfast and lunch for flood victims. The center is serving more than 200 additional meals each day, she said.
Convoy of Hope, Baptist Disaster Relief, Catholic Charities, Assembly of God groups and Tyson are just a few of the groups who have also shown up to help, said Stephens. Missouri Highlands Health Care has provided about $50,000 in free medical care to victims in the first 12 days after the flooding. The Stoddard County EMS mobile medical bus will be in Van Buren over the weekend.
The county has also requested 50 trailers from FEMA to provide temporary housing, Stephens said. Residents with nowhere else to go are being housed right now in motels and other locations with the help of community groups, he said.
Black urged residents to attend the Mutli-agency Resource Center open in the county today and Saturday. This event provides one stop access to a variety of resources and can answer many questions, he said.
Residents at the meeting were concerned about how the clean-up process could affect their chances of receiving federal assistance later, if a disaster declaration is issued.
"FEMA loves pictures," said Todd Farley, an operations chief with SEMA, assisting with county assessments.
It's understandable that work needs to begin and photographs of the damage and of debris piled outside for disposal will all help, he said.
Residents should also save all of their receipts for materials, a FEMA representative told the group. If a federal disaster declaration is issued, money may be available for victims for repairs to livable space at primary residences, he said. Temporary housing allowances could also be available.
Property owners do not have to be home while teams are doing assessments, another resident was told. The team does not need to go into the house, Farley said. They are gathering information for general designations such as major or minor damage.
There is no guarantee that a federal declaration is coming, residents were cautioned, and while the determination is sometimes made quickly, at other times it can take months.
In the meantime, there are other resources available, Black said.
"If you have a friend or neighbor who is not getting what they need, call me or go to the high school where the volunteers are at," Black said. "We're not going to ignore that."