Taylor, MO- Many families were displaced during the flooding events we saw last year. One of the neighborhoods evacuated due to the threat of high water was Fabius Village in Taylor, Missouri.
Last June nearly the entire mobile home park relocated when estimated crests on the Fabius River far exceeded the height of the levee system.
Rain didn’t stop the frantic evacuation at Fabius Village on June 25, 2008. Levels on the Fabius River were expected to overcome anything seen around here since the flood of 1973 and residents like Steven Reddick were hoping to save their homes from the impending flood waters.
What was it like here at the Fabius Village?
Reddick said, "It was panic and chaos. Everyone was in a turmoil of what to do, just trying to save their stuff."
Home moving companies were on hand to quickly transport the mobile homes to the parking lot of the 18 Wheeler truck stop on higher ground a half mile away. In the rush against the river crest, electric lines were cut and some trailers took on some damage in the move. Some sustained problems as they were maneuvered out of the park, others when axels broke on the homes. Further damage was done at the 18 Wheeler truck stop when a thief stripped some of the homes of their copper wiring.
About two weeks later when residents began moving their mobile homes back to Fabius Village, they realized recovery wasn’t going to be easy, even though flood waters never washed into the area.
Because the Fabius River never actually flooded as expected, FEMA would not pay for damages or relocation expenses caused by the evacuation. That left many families with huge, unexpected bills they couldn't pay easily. In fact in some cases the cost of moving a trailer was around $1,500. That doesn't include the cost of repairs to fix damages in the move or to re-wire electricity to each home, for example.
That’s when Northeast Missouri Unmet Needs stepped in to help. It’s a group of more than 20 social service agencies which banded together to try to help others facing hardships after disasters. They learned about 30 families were facing hard times as they faced paying for the movers and all the repairs with no help.
Unmet Needs caseworkers assessed the needs of 30 homeowners on an individual basis and found many problems. Skirting around trailers was missing, pipe insulation was gone, in some cases plumbing has to be fixed and homes had to be re-wired after power was cut. There were also water line problems and issues with furnaces and roofs.
Tom Dugger Executive Director of the American Red Cross and member of NEMO Unmet Needs said, "That got them behind in utilities and they didn’t have the money for adequate food."
Stacey Nicholas, RSVP Director and member of NEMO Unmet Needs said, "They paid for moving and their relocation expenses and they came back and they didn’t have the resources to get their gas connected."
In fact, due to some damages, one family here didn’t have heat in half their home all winter. Others needed help repairing wheelchair ramps damaged in the move.
Reddick got help replacing damaged skirting and insulating his home.
What was it like to be back home?
Reddick said, "It’s great. It’s good to have everything back to normal."
Members of the Unmet Needs Committee say his story is just one of many demonstrating the organization works to help everyone impacted in disaster situations.
Lou Lemen, Executive Director of the United Way of the Mark Twain Area and member of NEMO Unmet Needs said, "Our unmet needs organization is always working and we never really stop because we are always moving from disaster to disaster. Everyone in unmet needs is vital to helping people get back to normal."
All the repairs at Fabius Village were made possible by $50,000 grants from several agencies including the Missouri Interfaith Disaster Relief Association, Red Cross, Catholic Charities and National United Way.
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