We finally made it late last night after two days in the car. The ride was actually kind of nice, despite a few setbacks with unexpected van repairs, missed exits and incorrect addresses. I was in charge of getting the direction packets together, so when the address for the church turned out to be a little off [read: middle of the countryside a few miles from town], we were glad to be a couple hours ahead of the rest of the gang.

Arriving in Iowa was surprisingly stunning. We made it to the Clarksville countryside just as the sun was setting.  Being able to see the whole sky again reminded me of my second home – Kansas – and driving through these country roads was fun for all us Jersey folk.

I woke up this morning after a solid night’s sleep (on the floor and comfortable) to egg casserole and homemade muffins warming in the oven. After a couple days of day old (+) bagels, breakfast bagels, pizza bagels, PB&J bagels…waking up to the type of breakfast that my mom usually serves for Christmas morning was unbelievable.

Everyone made themselves comfortable in the basement of the Church.

Before we went out to work, Shelly, our AmeriCorps connection who helped set up this trip, showed us images from the disasters that happened last year. It’s really difficult to imagine something like that happening here because they’ve done such a great job rebuilding. She mentioned that Parkersburg and the places that were affected by the tornado have really been successful in restoring homes and businesses that were destroyed only a year ago.

What was shocking to hear was that flood damage isn’t thoroughly covered by insurance. So basically, if your home was washed away by a flood and your insurance doesn’t cover much, you will still have to pay the mortgage from the first house, the removal of the debris and then, on top of that, to build a new home on that property. How can anyone afford to do that?

After the presentation, we split up into three groups, one cleaning up flood damage, one cleaning up tornado damage and my site worked on roofing with Don Bliss at a home being rebuilt by Habitat for Humanity that was destroyed by flooding.
I had done roofing on another service trip back in high school, but this was completely different. There was no roof! We were actually building it, which meant standing on the frames, measuring, cutting wood and nailing it up there. When Don told me to get up there after we’d been on the scaffolding for a bit, it took me a minute to process what he was trying to tell me…I actually didn’t think that he was serious for a minute. It seemed really high and a bit dangerous to be working twenty feet above the cement foundation.

Yeah, so he was serious. For the rest of the afternoon, Don yelled directions from the ground, which was actually efficient, even if it took me five times to clarify the instructions. I did the measuring (with the ea pronounced like a long ae), marking and holding while my partner for the day, Ryan, did the hammering. It worked out well and we put that part on the roof that extends out a bit, an overhang I guess.

Don Bliss yelling up instructions to the rooftop workers.	As part of the third group in Shell Rock, Jordan paddles to some debris in her canoe.

The day went quickly, but by five we were all beat and ready to head out to Sinclair for a “Weenie Roast”, better known as a BBQ, at the Codner family farm. While driving out there we passed by grain elevators that we had seen in Sherry’s presentation earlier. They had been crushed like tin cans when the tornado passed through, and though they’re completely restored now, the aluminum that had blown off had landed in the Codner’s stream. The groups working at the farm had completely cleared out the aluminum, mattresses and random accouchements that had found their way into the stream, which will be a great relief with all of the flooding that has been happening in the past fifteen years.

As a few of us ventured to the train tracks, Liz pointed out the trail of the tornado. The forest was completely torn up and there was debris everywhere. The owner of the property mentioned that the tornado sounded like the biggest train you can imagine going overhead, which must have been terrifying. I don’t spend much time wandering near train tracks, but a few of us waited for one to pass by… and it was loud… and scary.

Our group playing Mafia, around the campfire at the Codner Farm.	One of the restored grain elevators in the distance.
Taking a walk through the trail made by the tornado.

As we played a Jersey favorite, Mafia, around the campfire, roasting marshmallows and eating s'mores, it felt really nice to get to know twenty-five new people and know that we’re going to accomplish a lot over in the time that we’re lucky enough to spend here.