Oct 22, 2007 6:34 pm US/Central
Life After The Flood: Rebuilding With Spirit
RUSHFORD, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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In Rushford, some businesses and homes were completely destroyed, having to be leveled and built anew.
CBS
The clean-up continues in the southeastern Minnesota town of Rushford after floodwaters soaked just about everything.
It has been two months since flood waters left residents in Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha and Winona counties devastated. Nearly 1500 homes were damaged by the rushing water on August 18 and 19.
Roads and bridges were washed away and, in all, the floods caused nearly $67 million in damage.
In Rushford, some businesses and homes were completely destroyed, having to be leveled and built anew. Others had to be sanitized and striped, including Rushford Foods.
"It's just a mammoth job. People just don't realize how big of a job this is," said Jim Hoiness, owner of Rushford Foods.
A day after the floods, the floor of this grocery store was covered in water, muck and food tossed from the shelves. Now the plan for Rushford Foods is to open next week and the people of this town are ready.
"I had two people come up and say 'Do you need help stocking the shelves over at the store?'" said Hoiness.
There are signs of steady progress with the Minnesota Department of Transportation working six days a week, rebuilding roads and bridges.
A handful of people in Rushford have left their homes but most are rebuilding as quickly as they can before winter arrives.
"Everyone is here pitching in and trying to get done. You can tell today it's a little bit brisk in the breeze so we need to get moving on it," said Rushford Mayor Les Ladewig.
Some people with just basement damage have already moved back to town. About 20 families live in FEMA trailers just outside of town; they didn't want to go too far.
"We're going to have a new normal in Rushford and we're hoping and praying it's better than what the normal was before that," said Ladewig.
To get back to normal they are depending on each other.
"That's a critical element for us here, is that we get everybody back," said Hoiness.
"Rushford is gonna survive, make no doubt about that," said Ladewig.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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