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Benefit Planned for Southeastern Minnesota Flood Victims Houston, MN: May 5, 2008 – After devastating floods hit southeastern Minnesota last August, many residents in the area focused their attention on rebuilding their homes and businesses. Now, a benefit is being planned to celebrate recovery and community, and to help those with unmet needs. Root Relief, an organization created by people who have their “roots” in southeastern Minnesota, will hold a benefit on Saturday, May 17 at the Houston Hoedown fest grounds in Houston, MN. Root Relief held its first benefit in St. Paul last September. The group raised $37,500 and distributed the funds to the Houston County Interfaith Long-Term Recovery Organization (HCILTRO) and Rushford Area Disaster Alliance for Recovery (RADAR).
RADAR has distributed a total of $274,624 through its assigned caseworkers. The caseworkers have distributed funds and/or received help from many organizations such as The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Lutheran Disaster Response, The Rushford Community Foundation, The Red Cross, Hearts and Hands, and all of the area churches.
“We have received a great deal of support and have made immense progress, in large part because of the more than 6400 volunteers who have helped with cleanup or reconstruction in Rushford,” said Gail Boyum, spokesperson for RADAR. “Thousands more cooked and donated food, water, pop, cleaning supplies, clothing, furniture, gift cards and dollars.”
Lutheran Social Services/Lutheran Disaster Response provided the organizational structure for recovery to happen more rapidly than imagined. “Yet, our need remains enormous, and people are eager to start building or complete reconstruction as quickly as possible,” added Boyum. “The caseworkers have told us that if RADAR could raise another $500,000 to $600,000, it would make a huge difference.” According to Boyum, unmet needs equal FEMA plus SBA plus Quick Start plus insurance subtracted from the amount necessary to complete the shelter. In Rushford alone, there are 266 active cases that represent more than $7.7 million in unmet needs (average unmet need per household is just under $30,000).
“These numbers represent replacement of the structure only -- caseworkers use the term ‘shell’ because it is strictly shelter,” said Boyum.
HCILTRO has distributed funds to households and businesses affected by the floods through the efforts of Elizabeth Bickford, a caseworker from the Salvation Army assigned to work with HCILTRO. “We are very grateful for the generosity of the Salvation Army to help the people in Houston County,” said Pastor Louise Stromberg of HCILTRO. “We are also thankful for the monies received from Root Relief and ACE Communications to help with the recovery efforts.”
Many families across Houston County continue to face challenges with recovery, rebuilding, and reconstruction. According to Bickford, there are 37 open cases representing approximately $500,000 in unmet needs. “The types of needs here are so varied and often do not fit the normal criteria,” said Pastor Stromberg.
As the agricultural season gets underway, estimates in Houston Country are expected to rise. “Our current estimates represent primarily homeowner losses and do not take into consideration the massive land, crop, feed, and fence replacement that will be needed,” said Bickford. “The actual dollar amount of agricultural loss remains undetermined at this time, but could be astronomical in some cases.” The continuing rains this spring have slowed the debris cleanup, especially of the farm land. Many of the fields that are covered with sand, trees, and other debris have water standing on them. Community efforts to help in these cleanup efforts have been hampered because of the rains. “We could use two weeks of sunshine to help our farmers so that they can get into the fields to do debris removal and begin spring work,” added Pastor Stromberg.
Root Relief decided to pull together a benefit to celebrate recovery efforts thus far and to support those who are still feeling the effects of the flood damage. All proceeds will be donated to HCILTRO and RADAR and used to help those with unmet needs as they strive to rebuild homes, lives and livelihoods. Several local musicians have donated their time and talents – including a feature performance by Virginia Dare during the evening set. Other local musicians will perform throughout the afternoon and early evening. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and chance drawings will be sold throughout the day for various prizes. A live auction will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will feature autographed memorabilia from ABC television stars, tickets for a Minnesota Twins game, and vacation getaways among other items. A minimum donation of $2.00 per person is suggested at the gate. For more detailed information about the event, go to www.rootrelief.org.
About Root Relief Root Relief is a Minnesota non-profit organization created to help victims of the August 2007 floods in southeastern Minnesota. Root Relief has received 501(c) 3 tax exempt status from the IRS. For more information about Root Relief, go to www.rootrelief.org or contact Lisa Missling at 612-710-6100 or via email at missling@frontiernet.net.
About Rushford Area Disaster Alliance for Recovery (RADAR) RADAR is a community, faith-based organization serving all of Fillmore County. The mission of RADAR is to provide coordinated assistance to individuals and families with needs resulting from the floods of August 2007 which are unmet by other assistance agencies. RADAR includes representatives from the Red Cross, Winona Mental Health, the United Way, the Rushford Community Foundation, the Winona Catholic Archdioceses, Lutheran Social Services/Lutheran Disaster Response, area churches and area businesses. RADAR has attained 501(c) 3 tax exempt status. For more information about RADAR, go to www.RADARrecovery.org or call at 507-864-7152 or email Gail Boyum at gbboyum@embarqmail.com.
About Houston County Interfaith Long-Term Recovery Organization Houston County Interfaith Long-Term Recovery Organization (HCILTRO) is incorporated as a Minnesota non-profit organization and has attained section 501(c) 3 tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. HCILTRO was formed to establish and maintain a network within and on behalf of the faith communities and secular agencies, which will provide a coordinated response to major disasters that occur within Houston County. For more information about HCILTRO contact Pastor Louise Stromberg at 507-896-3102 or email pslouise@acegroup.cc. Information may also be found at www.rootrelief.org. Look for the Houston County Interfaith connecting page.
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