The irony was not lost on Maj.

Saturday, July 15, 2000

The irony was not lost on Maj. Douglas Yeck.

"We’re in the business of helping others and now we need help," the Salvation Army Austin Corps officer in charge noted.

On Saturday, Yeck was scrambling to find another place to hold Sunday morning worship services.

The Austin Corps’ own chapel was unusable today, because of last Monday’s flooding.

When the Cedar River over-flowed its banks Monday and flooded East Oakland Avenue from the Third Street NE overpass north to 11th Street. It soaked everything in its way and some out-of-the-way places.

More than 12 feet of water filled the stretch of Oakland Avenue East beneath the Third Street NE overpass.

The rest swept down Fourth Street NE a block away and into the old-Terp Ballroom and the Salvation Army Family Thrift Store and corps headquarters.

"It’s a mess," said Yeck. "I’ve never seen that much water."

While the Salvation Army’s officers and other personnel raced to help flood victims, it had to race around a water-filled lower level.

On Saturday, volunteers, including a crew from the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, worked side by side with others to pump water from the lower level and haul materials upstairs to higher ground.

Water-soaked carpeting was pulled from the floor. Anything that was salvageable was saved. Anything that was not was hauled away.

All the while, Yeck and his wife Linda directed relief operations with the assistance of other Twin Cities area Salvation Army personnel, Bill Feist and Capt. Steve Woodard.

Randy Stahl, an Austin Corps cadet, communicated by walkie-talkie with other crews of the canteens delivering meals throughout the community.

The telephone rang with more questions and victims strolled in to ask for help.

More help coming

Sometime today, a semi-load of commercial and industrial cleaning equipment is expected in Austin.

It will have power washers, wet-dry vacuums and sump pumps to be loaned to flood victims on a first-come, first-served basis.

According to Capt. Woodard, the items are being made available by a collaborative relief organization that includes the Salvation Army, American Red Cross and Lutheran Social Services.

The times will only be available for 72 hours before being collected to be delivered to neighboring Houston and Fillmore counties.

Interested individuals may call the Salvation Army to request the use of the equipment at 437-4566.

"Because they are commercial and industrial models, they are more powerful and should make short work of some of the clean-up jobs people have," said Yeck.

Volunteers needed

The Salvation Army hopes to send out 40 volunteers today.

In order to do that, it will need more people to give up a couple of hours of their time.

"We want to do a blitz," said Yeck. "We want to send out as many people as possible to get the cleanup work done."

"This is the last scheduled day of the city pickup of flood debris, so residents will be busy getting as much of their flood-damaged household goods out to the curb as possible. This kind of equipment can get the job done far quicker and much more easier than anything else can," said Yeck.

Feeding continues

Robert Wentzel, the Twin Towers apartment resident, who donated money to buy cases of SPAM luncheon meat for distribution, is still a hero.

"Wasn’t that just great?" said Yeck. "He just had to do something and what he did was so wonderful, it’s beyond words."

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Austin has volunteered to provide kitchen facilities for the Salvation Army’s summer feeding program and community meals for the hungry.

"That’s been a big help for us," said Yeck.

Also, the Salvation Army and Mower County chapter of the American Red Cross are cooperating with the food service requirements in order to avoid a duplication of services.

The Red Cross chapter distributes a breakfast meal and the Salvation Army takes care of lunch. Then, both agencies provide an evening meal for victims and relief workers.

Grants for indigent

The Salvation Army is making $200 grants available to the indigent for rent, food and clothing.

The per family grants go to the income-eligible only.

According to Major Yeck, donations of money are needed to ensure the Salvation Army continues to perform at the high level it has for the last seven days during the flood emergency.

He also noted any money donated to the Salvation Army gets spent locally.

"All 100 percent of the money that we receive is used for assistance in the Mower County area. All of it," he said.