Helping those forgotten
When the Souris River in North Dakota reached record levels in June 2011 it flooded communities across the area. In the city of Minot, the river devastated thousands of homes, churches, schools and businesses.
Whitefish resident Warren Ellis wants to make sure those left homeless get the help they need.
“It’s the lost disaster,” he said. “Minot has been left out.”
Ellis has been traveling to Minot to assist with home cleanup since the disaster happened. As other natural disasters have occurred, particularly Superstorm Sandy, focus has been drawn away from Minot, according to Ellis.
Ellis made a trip to volunteer with a church group before he began leading volunteer groups for St. Peter Lutheran Church. He now leads two volunteer groups each a year, taking time off from his job at Plum Creek.
Volunteer crews work to clean houses and then rebuild houses focusing on those with the greatest need because of finances or disability. There are still families living in temporary housing while paying mortgages on houses that are uninhabitable. Beginning this year, the federal government began charging rent for the temporary housing, Ellis said.
“There’s about 140 homes that are still waiting for volunteers,” he said. “The numbers aren’t dwindling — houses are still being added to the list.”
Ellis’ crews have primarily worked in homes that have not been touched since the flood. Inside, furniture, appliances, clothes and personal items are strewn about.
“These people basically walked away from everything,” he said. “You can see the grief just by looking at the stuff left in their houses.”
Two trips are planned again this year, one in June and a second in October. Ellis is looking for volunteers along with donations. The group needs to raise about $8,000 to provide transportation and lodging for the volunteers. Donations are being accepted through the church.
Through March, a grant from Thrivent Financial will provide matching funds up to $5,000. For every dollar donated to Minot, Thrivent will contribute 50 cents.
The Hope Village, run by multiple faith-based organizations, coordinates volunteer efforts and provides volunteer housing and meals.
Volunteers strip homes down to the studs, subfloor and often remove the siding from the homes. The homes are then dried out and sanitized to remove mold. Finally, volunteers rebuild the homes.
Ellis has a few contractors who make the trip as volunteers, but said any skill level is welcome. The trips average about 30 volunteers logging up to 1,400 hours.
“We had a 70-year age spread in one of our crews,” he said. “You learn as you go and there’s plenty to do. There’s a lot that needs to be done.”
In the past, some of the volunteers have worked in the kitchen at the Hope Village helping to provide meals. Now, as more of the work shifts to rebuilding homes volunteers are needed for that work, but also doing jobs such as landscaping.
Volunteers sometimes get the chance to meet the homeowners.
The appreciation from homeowners and even neighbors of the cleaned homes is apparent. One neighbor brought cookies to the crew every night to show their appreciation. Ellis noted one elderly man who watched crews spend three days ripping everything from his home.
“He spent the three days with tears in his eyes,” Ellis said. “He knew it wouldn’t get done if it wasn’t for us. These people are so grateful that we come.”
When the flood first hit Minot, Ellis said he felt compelled to go.
“The Lord called and I just went,” he said. “I go for two weeks every year and I’ll keep going until it’s done.”
Two trips are scheduled for June 23-29 and Sept. 29- Oct. 5. For more information, contact Ellis at 212-0170 or at wwarren@centurytel.net. Donations for the Minot project can be sent to St. Peter Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 883, Whitefish, MT 59937.