MARTINSVILLE, IN FLOOD REPORT
JUNE 14-27, 2008
by Charlot Cole, volunteer for Children's Disaster Services
Twenty-four hours of training through the Church of the Brethren (CoB) plus police background check qualifies me to volunteer for CoB Children’s Disaster Services (CDS). Emphasis is put on being flexible. The CoB has a partnering agreement with the American Red Cross (ARC). When there is a disaster the ARC and CoB headquarters in New Windsor, MD communicate by e-mail and/or telephone and are alerted to be on standby. Then we are asked if we can travel and when for a two week commitment. Originally I was asked to go to Terre Haute. The day before I left I was asked if I would go to Martinsville. Martinsville sits in the bottom of a bowl rimmed by hills in which runs the White River and Indian Creek. They received ten or more inches of rain in less than twelve hours June 6th. We are sent in only when conditions are considered safe vs being first responders. The ARC requires we “process in/out” which was done in Indianapolis. I was met there by our team leader. At Martinsville we were housed in the Super 8. A dumpster full of mattresses and furniture from the 1st floor rooms were evidence of interior damage. The owner had no insurance. His second floor was filled with ARC and CoB volunteers which was a blessing for him.
The Indy Restaurant where we ate breakfast several mornings had been cleaned up after the flood but water damage caused electrical problems led to a fire and another two week closure.
Every day the ARC was open we worked. Their personnel interview flood victims who may receive money, food stamps and other assistance. They may be referred for mental health counseling or medical help within ARC or outside as well. Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) interviewed people to see what their needs were and if they qualified for services or maybe to be bought out.
ARC downsized, FEMA was still working full force because some other counties were being referred to Martinsville’s center. FEMA requested our services. ARC and FEMA can complete their work more easily and quickly when parents aren’t distracted or interrupted by tired, anxious children. Working under FEMA necessitated we move to the YMCA’s children’s activity rooms. Because the “Y” was having a “summer camp for kids” we and our “stuff” had to be cleared out of the two rooms by 6:00 a.m. daily.
Even that was better than bedding down in a church with no showers. We slept on tile floors with air mattresses and sleeping bags. Some of the “Y” staff invited us out for Sunday night supper, dessert and a special church service. Nice! Supper and dessert was brought in to us the next night. Rolls and orange juice were provided one morning.
You, my church family, provided me with a Kit of Care - a suitcase full of toys, games, puppets, stickers, coloring books and crayons, felt markers for art, small cars, dolls, stuffed animals, a Polaroid camera (for identifying the parent who brings the children in), and more. Our team of five volunteers register the children. Then they get down on the floor to play with the kids and the toys. There are some kids who cry. One such 1½-2 year old boy was as strong as GI Joe, Jr.! I worked with him for 45 minutes and finally sat him down in the middle of our puzzle and coloring table which won his attention instead of running for the door! He then wanted to move to the play dough table and sat on the same chair with an older boy. They became pals. The children sometimes talk about their experiences with the disaster. If so, we listen. One told of a house sliding down a hill. Another's face would cloud up and say, “I’m worried about my Mommy and Daddy”. Some talked about how high the water was in their house or trailer. “Don’t touch those toys,” a child had been told in her flooded home.
Children and adults came in with red swollen tetanus shot areas. One child came to us three days. His mother said, “How do you do it? You must coat everything with sugar! He told me he wanted to come here today.” He spent 6 hours with us one day and was a delight playing games. Can you imagine how bored he’d have been for that length of time with her? One mother lamented she felt guilty because all she lost was electrical appliances while others lost everything. (During my stay 238 kids were served.)
Parents were very grateful for our help thanking us at both drop-off and pick-up times. ARC people came to our room and thanked us. An Indiana State Trooper came to our room daily. He did magic tricks for the kids and showed them policemen are friends and not to be feared. He sat with the children and colored.
A young mother named Angel came with her five children to ask if some of her older 4-H club members could come help us. She was from higher ground and wanted to do something more. What did we need? She brought fresh fruits, finger cereal and crackers, juice boxes and numerous other supplies. Her children played beautifully with ours just for entertainment.
They prepared a puppet show for us. Angel and family had us to their home for a Thanksgiving meal for our services.
We were blessed! - CC
by Charlot Cole, volunteer for Children's Disaster Services
Twenty-four hours of training through the Church of the Brethren (CoB) plus police background check qualifies me to volunteer for CoB Children’s Disaster Services (CDS). Emphasis is put on being flexible. The CoB has a partnering agreement with the American Red Cross (ARC). When there is a disaster the ARC and CoB headquarters in New Windsor, MD communicate by e-mail and/or telephone and are alerted to be on standby. Then we are asked if we can travel and when for a two week commitment. Originally I was asked to go to Terre Haute. The day before I left I was asked if I would go to Martinsville. Martinsville sits in the bottom of a bowl rimmed by hills in which runs the White River and Indian Creek. They received ten or more inches of rain in less than twelve hours June 6th. We are sent in only when conditions are considered safe vs being first responders. The ARC requires we “process in/out” which was done in Indianapolis. I was met there by our team leader. At Martinsville we were housed in the Super 8. A dumpster full of mattresses and furniture from the 1st floor rooms were evidence of interior damage. The owner had no insurance. His second floor was filled with ARC and CoB volunteers which was a blessing for him.The Indy Restaurant where we ate breakfast several mornings had been cleaned up after the flood but water damage caused electrical problems led to a fire and another two week closure.
Every day the ARC was open we worked. Their personnel interview flood victims who may receive money, food stamps and other assistance. They may be referred for mental health counseling or medical help within ARC or outside as well. Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) interviewed people to see what their needs were and if they qualified for services or maybe to be bought out.
ARC downsized, FEMA was still working full force because some other counties were being referred to Martinsville’s center. FEMA requested our services. ARC and FEMA can complete their work more easily and quickly when parents aren’t distracted or interrupted by tired, anxious children. Working under FEMA necessitated we move to the YMCA’s children’s activity rooms. Because the “Y” was having a “summer camp for kids” we and our “stuff” had to be cleared out of the two rooms by 6:00 a.m. daily.
Even that was better than bedding down in a church with no showers. We slept on tile floors with air mattresses and sleeping bags. Some of the “Y” staff invited us out for Sunday night supper, dessert and a special church service. Nice! Supper and dessert was brought in to us the next night. Rolls and orange juice were provided one morning.
You, my church family, provided me with a Kit of Care - a suitcase full of toys, games, puppets, stickers, coloring books and crayons, felt markers for art, small cars, dolls, stuffed animals, a Polaroid camera (for identifying the parent who brings the children in), and more. Our team of five volunteers register the children. Then they get down on the floor to play with the kids and the toys. There are some kids who cry. One such 1½-2 year old boy was as strong as GI Joe, Jr.! I worked with him for 45 minutes and finally sat him down in the middle of our puzzle and coloring table which won his attention instead of running for the door! He then wanted to move to the play dough table and sat on the same chair with an older boy. They became pals. The children sometimes talk about their experiences with the disaster. If so, we listen. One told of a house sliding down a hill. Another's face would cloud up and say, “I’m worried about my Mommy and Daddy”. Some talked about how high the water was in their house or trailer. “Don’t touch those toys,” a child had been told in her flooded home.
Children and adults came in with red swollen tetanus shot areas. One child came to us three days. His mother said, “How do you do it? You must coat everything with sugar! He told me he wanted to come here today.” He spent 6 hours with us one day and was a delight playing games. Can you imagine how bored he’d have been for that length of time with her? One mother lamented she felt guilty because all she lost was electrical appliances while others lost everything. (During my stay 238 kids were served.)
Parents were very grateful for our help thanking us at both drop-off and pick-up times. ARC people came to our room and thanked us. An Indiana State Trooper came to our room daily. He did magic tricks for the kids and showed them policemen are friends and not to be feared. He sat with the children and colored.
A young mother named Angel came with her five children to ask if some of her older 4-H club members could come help us. She was from higher ground and wanted to do something more. What did we need? She brought fresh fruits, finger cereal and crackers, juice boxes and numerous other supplies. Her children played beautifully with ours just for entertainment.
They prepared a puppet show for us. Angel and family had us to their home for a Thanksgiving meal for our services.
We were blessed! - CC
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