Marseilles flood committee releases recovery data

Following more than a year of volunteer work to provide assistance both financial and physical to flood-affected Marseilles residents, the Long Term Recovery Committee of La Salle County has released statistical details of its efforts.

Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Lukasick, who also is the pastor of Marseilles Methodist Church, told The Times individual and corporate donations "eventually totaled more the $60,000 (including $12,000 raised by Shakers Lounge in Ottawa alone).

"Because most of those residents affected by the floods did not have (proper) private insurance to cover damages, the committee interviewed 85 households to judge need and, of those, the committee gave 53 homeowners financial assistance of various amounts depending on the particular circumstances," said Lukasick.

Lukasick explained many of the households used Federal Emergency Management Agency monies (from $100 to the maximum grant of $31,900) and personal savings to provide material costs resulting from destroyed property (drywall, trim, flooring, appliances, furniture, etc.), but "most resources often didnt stretch to cover labor costs."

Assistance provided from these funds ranged from professional mold remediation to bathroom and kitchen replacement and furnace installation.

She said LTRC also referred households to other agencies that could assist the families, including United Way of Eastern La Salle County, Tri-County Opportunities Council's emergency Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to replace furnaces, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development for low-interest repair loans and senior citizen repair grants.

She credited Golden Rule Lumber in Ottawa for being instrumental in determining actual needs, contributing and/or discounting building supplies and providing free delivery.

The Marseilles Southern Baptist congregation fed and housed more than 150 volunteers who were in the city for five weeks performing more than 6,300 hours of "mucking out and gutting homes."

Other companies and organizations which helped residents included Wal-Mart, Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating, Morris Hospital, Marseilles Lions Club, the Marseilles Nursing Service, Marseilles Food Pantry, the Marseilles American Legion, James Hardie Building Products in Peru, Salvation Army, American Red Cross,Gleason Furniture & Hardware in Marseilles and many area churches.

At least 22 volunteer crews came from out-of-town churches or organizations, many from other states working more than an estimated 4,000 hours. Their work varied from the minor (painting, mold remediation) to more complicated repairs of floor and drywall replacement. Local churches fed the volunteer hot dinner every night and the Marseilles Rotary fed each crew at least lunch during their stay.

Read more here:
Marseilles flood committee releases recovery data