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Post by richard on Jun 13, 2008 13:56:42 GMT -5
This news was posted on The Republic’s web site around 2:40 p.m. Columbus Regional Hospital officials announced that early estimates for repairing the facility and replacing equipment will cost in excess of $25 million. They are hoping they will be able to open the emergency room for service in six to eight weeks.
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Post by Ricky_Berkey on Jun 14, 2008 8:48:52 GMT -5
I was high and dry from the flooding but it came surprisingly close. I am in such pain to see my friends and neighbors pulling their belongings to the curb. It was wonderful to see the quick response of the city and county emergency personnel. This was a scenario that they had probably not planned for. They usually take the worst case on record and plan for a notch or two above that but who knew it would be like this. Red Cross was out immediately helping both the victims and the rescuers, they deserve your full support.
I'm saddened to hear that the looters out taking advantage of the situation. It is good that they are being dealt with and nice that the Republic is putting their ugly mugshots in the paper. You can also rest assured that lots of predatory contractors are on the road to take advantage of so many folks in need of help. Be really careful on whom you deal with. It's a slow process to restoration and I can't even imagine someone would be trying to rip me off in the process.
The Visitors Center is still running their bus tours and it really is bothering me. I may resign as a Columbus volunteer tour guide as I think its disrespectful to the flood victims to have to see our bus so soon after the disaster. This is a Federal Disaster area. We have to stay positive and focus on the future but right now we need to deal with the present state of affairs.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jun 16, 2008 6:55:30 GMT -5
Just a little update on our situation here in Rocky Ford Crossing. We were not home and unable to get back to our home a week ago Saturday but the news I've heard from my neighbors is that the police drove through our development early on, telling them to collect their important papers, etc, blankets, pets, pillows, etc. and that evacuation crews would come back through for them. No one ever returned to Rocky Ford Crossing. So even though some were ready to evacuate they never had the opportunity. I'm not sure why this happened, perhaps since our development is a small one they just forgot but the two neighborhoods behind us were evacuated by city salt trucks, boats etc. Another neighbor told me that in less than 20 minutes the water went from one inch to up to her waist (and she is a tall gal...close to 6 foot tall).
On Monday following the flood, we did have a city truck picking up trash we had all put out on Sunday. One neighbor was told they only came here because they could not get in to the area they wanted to, which was Everroad Park off 25th Street. There were too many cars parked, too much traffic etc and the big trucks could not get through their streets. So Monday we got a pick up but we have not seen a truck in our area since. I can hear the front loaders and trucks in Arrowwood, behind us...and also Sycamore Bend, but none have come through to clean up our mess. I know they will get here in time but we sure would like to see them on our streets. I'm not meaning to sound like I am complaining. I can't imagine the magnitude of the chore facing all the city crews. I know they are all working as hard and as fast as they can but we just naturally wish things were normal and who knows when normal will ever return!
I want to commend the police for all the drive throughs they are doing. It has to be a monumental task to try and keep looters from taking things; although at this point I wouldn't much care if there was something they wanted from the huge pile in front of my house. When we had our electrician out to check our wiring etc. one of the men asked if he could take a small office type chair we had out at the curb. I told him sure he could take it but it was water logged and starting to rust on all of the metal parts. He said he would clean it up and make use of it but other than this one item I don't know that anyone has taken anything from any of our homes. There are police in the area from Seymour, Bloomington and other cities as well....and thanks to all of them for their patrolling.
Never lived through anything like this before and surely hope I never have to again. I thought when my husband was gone to Viet Nam for a year that I would never be any sadder and when you lose a loved one you think "can I go on" but this is just so daunting and unending. I suppose it will be weeks and weeks, maybe even months and months.
Ricky made a comment that I want to refer to; he said he thought he might resign as a volunteer on the city tour. Well Ricky I won't tell you to stop doing this important job; I think it is great you have adopted our fair city, but I can say this from the point of view of one who has suffered a huge loss. I do not appreciate all the people driving through and gawking at our misery. Just my opinion and perhaps I shouldn't even voice it but it does bother me. We have cars all day long driving around our small area, just driving through slow and looking. I know they probably mean well and yes, I've had friends tell me they've gone out for a drive to look around but I've point blank told them that I find that hurtful. We had to go to the store the other day, first time out of the house to go somewhere, and we did notice the piles of debris along the streets but we didn't purposefully drive through gawking. We drove normal speed, kept to the normal route and didn't make a point of slowing down traffic.
Okay enough of my yakking for today. Take care, stay well and God bless everyone.
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Margo CHS Class of 55
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Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Jun 16, 2008 13:53:47 GMT -5
Eastside Community Center will be delivering some meals this evening, about 4:00pm. If you have not seen them in your neighbohood, please call and let them know you would appreciate some. VOLUNTEERS are NEEDED to box and also deliver the meals. If you know of a restaurant that would like to donate any left overs they may have, please call Priscilla at 376-7840.
Also, there will be a free hot meal SERVED at First United Methodist Church, 618 8th from 5:00 to 6:00 pm.today, 17th. Doors open at 4:30. I was supposed to get flyers passed out today, regarding these meals, but am not have a good day, health wise. I would appreciate your passing the word along for me....... MArgo
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jun 17, 2008 4:54:58 GMT -5
We are finally getting some much needed assistance with some of our bigger tasks and one thing I want to pass along that we were told last evening is that more crews will be out collecting the debris soon.
This kind gentleman from the church where we spent our Saturday night is out helping others all over and he said he was told the city of Columbus will soon have drivers and equipment from other cities in our area to help with the clean up. That sounded wonderful to me as our street is looking worse and worse each day and yesterday we did not hear any of the big vehicles behind us in either Arrowwood or Sycamore Bend. When you at least hear them, you have a hope they will be in your area soon, but not hearing anything is rather depressing. You begin to wonder if they will ever return. This evening we are hoping to add all the drywall out of our basement to our stack which is already tremendously high. We hired a young man who is doing some work for other people in our area and when I called him he said he'd be out close to 6 last night. He was here a little later but he came and he said he'd be here today at 430 to take out the drywall. He no sooner left than this kind man from the Rocky Ford Free Methodist Church parked out front of our house and today at 930 he and some men from that church are coming to assist Don with the remaining large items I could not help get up the stairs.
Thanks Margo for the information on the delivery of food, I will pass that along to some neighbors. Food for us right now is a very low priority, it just doesn't even interest either my husband or myself. We eat because we know you have to but to be perfectly honest in this past week I can say there have only been a couple of times when we even felt hunger.
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Post by Lemley on Jun 17, 2008 6:54:06 GMT -5
Gail -- We live in 309 Flatrock. We had about 8 feet of water in the basement--above ceiling level in basement and a few inches in the sunken living room.
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gdemoss
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Post by gdemoss on Jun 17, 2008 8:30:06 GMT -5
My heart goes out to you. I am relieved to know that you are OK and saddened by the extensive damage to your home. I wish that I were closer (I live in Maryland) and could help in the cleanup or however needed. So many people lost so much. I hope that the house was built strong enough to withstand the forces of the flood. My mother said she wanted a whole room full of kids to be able to jump around and not shake the house! Thank you for letting me know how you are. When you have a moment, I would like to know how things are going. I care about the house of course, but I am concerned about your welfare and safety. I know mold and water rot will be your biggest threat. My email is gdemoss@alberg30.org Most sincerely, Gail DeMoss
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Post by Tom on Jun 18, 2008 0:48:02 GMT -5
I grew up on Flatrock Dr and delivered newspapers to everyone around the lagoons for six years so obviously I knew everyone that used to live there. The neighborhood has changed some faces, but I still know many in the area. I'll be back in town this weekend, and even though I don't live there, I'm sure it will make me sick when I see my old house and talk with neighbors. My thoughts and prayers have been with all those affected.
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Margo CHS Class of 55
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Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind; it doesn't matter.
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Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Jun 18, 2008 0:53:53 GMT -5
Eastside Community Center ph # 376-7840) delivered over 400 FREE HOT meals this afternoon, Tues. 17th, along with jugs of water.The meals left the Center at 4:00 to 4:15, thanks to our Volunteer deliverers.
Babs, I hope you and Don were able to enjoy one of these...it is so IMPORTANT for you to eat, to keep up your strength. Then we geared back up to serve 50 more individuals with a FREE hot sit down meal at the Center.
Wed 18th, we will repeat the same procedure. PLEASE call Eastside if you are needing a meal delivered to you. Do not know at this time what the meal will be, as it varies. Today it was chicken
Clothing ... All the agencies I talked to today,are swamped with clothes !! Sans Souci is no longer accepting any,as of today. It is too early for flood victims to accept them, as they are so busy cleaning up their homes.
THE REAL NEED is for CLEANING SUPPLIES, especially bleach, AND 5 GALLON BUCKETS. If you care to donate any, Eastside is only one of the places that are accepting these types of donations
Barb,( or ayone else) PLEASE let me know if you need help with the physical labor of 'muckin', gutting and moving".
First Baptist Church ( 376-3321) has Disaster Relief teams out daily, and I know many other churches do also. This is the time for anyone to ask for help, that have always been on the Giving end, before.
There should be a hot SIT DOWN meal served at various churches at 5:00 pm , every night of the week. I'm not sure about the schedule for delivered meals. It just depends on the Donations we receive, and if we have enough drivers to deliver them. Enough for tonight, God is working in Columbus, as He guides our many efforts.
Time for bed.z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-
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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 18, 2008 13:32:05 GMT -5
I went out last week and took pictures within a 3 block radius of Washington St., Franklin, Lawton, and from the Coke Plant to up to 17th Street. All of the pictures I took were of trash piled along the streets and alleys.
I've been pretty busy (well, as busy as I can be these days) still cleaning up things. We had a new water heater installed yesterday, but there were some problems and VECTREN wouldn't turn on the gas (we've been without gas now since the flood). Supposedly, all the "CONCERNS" have been repaired and VECTREN is supposed to come back at any time.
I think I got it bad sometimes here, but LORD, I drove over to Five Points on Sunday and went down the hill on Mapleton(?). If you feel like you have it bad, just take that drive. Its' heartbreaking. The water got to the tops of those houses because they sit down in that little valley like area.
I saw that tables were set up around Five Points and people were feeding people and Cummins had something set up in the Tech Center parking lot.
I didn't take my camera with me because I always forget to take my camera with me when I go somewhere. Sheesh!
We don't get the paper every day, so I haven't read any news since last Sunday.
Thanks to Richard, I did read that you can still get a FREE tetanus shot today. I'm sorry, I can't remember if it was at the ANNEX on State Street or a different place. PROMPT MED is also offering shots, but I think they cost $20 there.
The city came along Monday and started removing all the rubble in front of the homes along Washington Street. I think that most, if not all, is gone now. Now I see the city will be spraying for mosquitos, beginning tonight. Might want to shut up the windows.
At least the weather's cooperating this week. Comfortable temps both day and night.
I'll try to work on getting more pictures posted. I still have quite a backlog.
Hope everyone is doing ok...
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Margo CHS Class of 55
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Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind; it doesn't matter.
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Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Jun 18, 2008 21:44:48 GMT -5
Eastside Community Center ( ph # 376-7840) delivered over 450 FREE HOT meals WED 18th.The meals left the Center at 4:15-4:30 to various sub divisions and area where the flood hit the hardest. I have not driven to the Pleasant Grove /Mapleton area, yet. I have strong ties to that area,and am not ready yet to cope with that reality. We then cleaned and reset the tables for the FREE sit down dinner, served at 5:00 to over 50 more. Our grateful thanks to Memorial Baptist Church, for preparing and serving that delicious hot meal . Tomorrow, Thursday, we have been asked to prepare and deliver 600 meals !! If you know of someone or even yourself that would like one of these meals, please call the center, and give them your address. Eastside is still needing Volunteer drivers for next week, and donations of bottled water, and bleach. We are also needing some more businesses, or restaurants to donate food for next week. We have food enough until Friday the 20th.
Friday night's FREE sit down meal will be at First Presbyterian on 7th and Franklin Streets.
Thanks to Babs, for giving us an update on their progress.We do keep you and Don in our prayers,darlin'.
I'm hearing many, many helicopters flying overhead again, ( 10:30 pm) as I live close to the hospital. However, they only have two based there now, and these are many more than that. I will be praying that it is the Marines at Atterbury for training and not another disaster.
Enough for tonight. God is good, and is having a mighty hand in guiding the people of Columbus to help their neighbor...
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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 19, 2008 2:51:11 GMT -5
Water pressure on the exterior of basement walls was just too much for this home on Lawton Street. Several basement walls caved in resulting is several homes being condemed but I do not believe this was one of them.cdf, thank you so much for sending me the pictures, plus posting and identifying.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jun 19, 2008 8:12:24 GMT -5
Update and/or correction, whatever it should be called. Earlier I made a reference to the fact that even though the residents of our development (Rocky Ford Crossing) had been told they would be evacuated on that Saturday night, they were not. Okay, here is the reason why. My next door neighbor was talking to a lady who lives behind us, in Arrowwood. She was being taken from her home on a jet ski and the jet ski overturned, dumping her and her driver into the swirling water. At that point whoever was in charge determined that it was much too dangerous and the current was moving so fast that further evacuation had to be stopped.
Our street was cleared yesterday and aside from lots of small pieces of debris from drywall that was pulled down, it almost looks normal. Hats off to those men who are driving those big city trucks and all their hard work. They are working 12 hour shifts and still they keep smiling. I had to laugh at the two men on our truck as they were going about their endless chore, one guy did something to sort of aggravate or tease the other younger man and then he laughed so hard he had to wipe the tears from his face. That gave me a lift just to watch these two men, hard at work, yet making time and taking a couple minutes to lighten their day and give them each a laugh. What a job and it goes on and on! Have not noticed any patrol cars in our neighborhood lately so perhaps they have cut back on that, Overall I do think all the citizens of our fair city need to send out a huge thank you to the police, firemen, city truck drivers, etc. Sure some things have been missed, some people didn't get picked up as fast as they might like but I sure wouldn't want to be one of these men who are out there doing all of this to protect and help us clean up.
FEMA is making their rounds, I've heard of two neighbors who have registered and the FEMA people are here within days, so they are trying hard too.
About all I know at this point, our insurance is not being very cooperative so we have no idea if they will assist us in any way. Sure would hope they would, even a little bit, as we've been with this particular company for over 50 years. Time will tell I suppose. At least we did have an independent insurance adjuster make a call to our house late last night and he asked me to email him pictures I had taken of our items and also of the debris pile out in front of our house. He is out of Cinncinnati, Ohio and from what I hear there were a load of these guys hitting our streets not too many days ago. Some will get help, either via their insurance or possibly by FEMA and some will have to bear the whole burden of replacing and rebuilding their lives all on their own.
Special congratulations go out to all the churches that have really been out there helping people. From what I hear there must be the biggest cooperative in our town's history of churches banding together and working long hours helping neighbors. Without those kind and compassionate volunteers from the various churches a lot of us would have been entirely on our own. We love you all so much and thanks from the bottom of our hearts. Margo has mentioned the Eastside Community and all the meals they are serving; they are another group that needs to be commended for their efforts.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jun 19, 2008 20:37:50 GMT -5
Margo, I believe I read someplace that the helicopters would be overhead, so do think it is some sort of military exercise that is going on. Although we do live near the flight path, helicopters don't seem to fly as low or come over our area as much as some other type of planes do. Its possible I gleaned this information from the daily updates Richard sends out to us. Our paper had been stopped due to our planned trip to N.Y. and it just began two days ago, so without the emails from Richard I would not have known about the military training exercises.
I do not believe it is anything to do with the flood or evacuation of the sick from the hospital. Speaking of the hospital, we have a neighbor who is a Pharmacist at the hospital and she came by today and told me a bit of information that is good news. I guess the hospital employees will continue to be paid but will have no place to work for possibly months, so they are starting an "outreach program" and Jennifer was making a list of any needs that we might have in our neighborhood. The hospital employees will then be assigned to come help us for free. She said they feel they need to be busy and do their share in helping. Isn't that wonderful news? I suppose each employee will "farm" their own areas and make lists of individual needs. I passed this information along to some of my neighbors and they were so happy to learn about it. Will let you know how this works out as the plan moves forward. Jennifer also said that the hospital's basement had just been rennovated and that they had lost millions of dollars in medicine at the pharmacy alone.
Keep strong everyone!
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Margo CHS Class of 55
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Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Jun 19, 2008 23:12:38 GMT -5
Thanks, Babs, for all the updates you have posted.
I agree with you that all our City and County employees have done an outstanding job serving the community needs during this crisis. Some people are so quick to criticize, if they are not served first. However, the vast majority of people I have heard from, are xtremely grateful for whatever is done for them. Thursday, Eastside volunteers filled, boxed, packed, counted, and delivered 650 boxes of good meals for the flood victims. WHEW !! We had quite an assembly line going. Reminded me of the I Love Lucy espisode. I have named it "Organized Chaos"
Paige Harden and Andrew Laker were there from The Republic. Andrew was busy snapping pictures, and Paige pulled on a pair of gloves and pitched right in to help fill boxes !! These two are such wonderful people, and I'm blessed to have them as friends.
I did not make it to First Baptist today, or to see Babs and Don. Will be glad to see Friday come, so that possibly I can rest for the weekend. I'm tired, but it's a good kind of tired, when you hear reports of how grateful the flood victims are for anything anyone does to help them. THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO HELP IN ANYWAY... That's what makes Columbus such a SPECIAL TOWN !!!
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boyce
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Post by boyce on Jun 20, 2008 11:35:24 GMT -5
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jun 20, 2008 21:17:47 GMT -5
Great pictures Boyce; really something to see Irwin Union Bank and all of Eastbrook amidst all that water!
After purchasing fans and dehumidifyers a couple of days ago, we decided today to go with a service out of Indianapolis and have them bring in the "big guns" to dry out our basement. That purchase is money down the drain but for the sake of our health Don felt it was the wise thing to do. I am now listening to huge fans and blowers (ten in all) and hopefully within four days they should have all the excess taken out of the air.
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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 21, 2008 1:58:55 GMT -5
Boyce, your pictures are amazing! Thanks so much for sharing.
Babs, you might want to consider a dehumidifier as well. It will do a good job of sucking up the moisture.
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Margo CHS Class of 55
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Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind; it doesn't matter.
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Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Jun 21, 2008 8:27:35 GMT -5
A FREE Lunch to recognize all the Volunteers and also the flood victims, will be Sat. June 21st from noon to 1:00 pm. This will be at Eastside Community Center 421 McClure Rd. ( across from Garland Brook and McDowell School.) Food will be provided by the BRIDGES COMMUNITY CHURCH of Anderson, IN. These great people are coming from Anderson to express their support for the flood victims, and appreciation for all of the many wonderful Volunteers who have helped in any way. Hope to see you there...
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Rhonda
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Post by Rhonda on Jun 21, 2008 13:42:47 GMT -5
By all means, get a dehumidifier for the basement. Even though we were fortunate to not get water in either of our basements, we put a dehumidifier in the basement of the home we have for sale. You would not believe the amount of water it is taking out of the air down there! The sump pump kept the water out of the basement, but it was still SO damp from all the water in the ground around and under the basement concrete, we just felt we needed to get the dehumidifier. K-mart has some....as well as Wal-Mart now.
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