Event Calendar

A special anniversary program was held on January 11th, 2006, the one year anniversary of the January 11, 2005 flood. This special program was held at the Cox Auditorium with Dixie College providing the Auditorium at no charge. A welcome was given by David Watson, President of the Virgin River/Santa Clara River Flood Relief organization. Remarks were given by Morris Peacock, Treasurer; Lyman Hafen, Flood Book Committee; Rep. David Clark (District 74); James Eardly, County Commissioner; and Dennis Drake, Santa Clara Mayor. Dan Matheson presented the
KCSG video special with special footage of some of the flood survivors. The Heritage Choir were there and thrilled the audience with three selections.

Mary Cook, Charlotte Pace & Alta Thorpe, representing those who lost their homes, talked about some of their flood experiences, post-flood problems, but most of all gave their thanks to all the member of the community who gave to the fund. They were, also, very appreciative of the work of the many, many volunteers.

Annette Everett unveiled the statue of the volunteer, teen-age boy carrying sandbags. She said that he was a symbol of all the volunteers who gave freely to help those in need. She created the sculpture from a photo from the book, "Portraits of Loss - Stories of Hope." A seven foot version will be placed in Downtown St. George's planned waterway park. Smaller models will be available for sale at the Art Cottage in Historic Downtown St. George.

The Virgin River/Santa Clara River Flood Relief fund has received about $2.8 M in cash, pledges and building lots for homes since the January 11, 2005 flood. Money is not just coming into the fund; it is also going out of the fund. As of January 1st, 2006, 60% of the equity loss of all 15 home owners has been distributed to the flood victims. The bulk of the money has gone to the victims who lost their homes to the raging waters, but some has gone to stabilize homes which were not destroyed.

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Gratitude takes over at flood program
By BRIAN PASSEY
bpassey@ad.gannett.com
ST. GEORGE - A year ago, residents along the Santa Clara River were awash in grief as flood waters tore their homes from their foundations. Those same residents gathered on Wednesday evening in the Cox Auditorium at Dixie State College on the first anniversary of the disaster.

Their grief was overtaken by gratitude.

The heartache of loss was acknowledged during the evening. Washington County Commission Chairman James Eardley called it a "solemn, almost reverential experience."

But most of the evening focused on the recovery effort as speakers talked of the Dixie Spirit shown as neighbors and strangers came together.

The Virgin River/Santa Clara River Flood Relief, Inc. organization presented numbers showing what was raised and where the money went. Elected officials spoke about the governmental and community response. And the victims spoke about gratitude.

"I have never felt so blessed and have never had such a full heart of gratitude," said Mary Cook, who watched her family's Santa Clara home fall into the river on Jan. 11, 2005.

Cook said words could not express her thanks to those who worked for hours to help her family recover.

Charlotte Pace, who lost her St. George home, and Alta Thorpe, whose St. George home was saved through relief funds, joined in the gratitude.

"Whatever your contribution was, we thank you," Thorpe said. "God bless you and thank you."

Thorpe's comments were greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd that seemed to thank everyone who contributed.

Many of the evening's comments focused on the book/DVD combo produced within weeks of the storm to raise money for the victims. Morris Peacock, treasurer for the flood relief fund, reported that sales of the book/DVD raised more than one-sixth of the nearly $3 million to help the victims recover.

About $1.5 million in funds and land donations have already been dispersed to those who lost homes. Additional funds have helped others with personal property loss or the stabilization of badly damaged, but salvageable, homes.

Lyman Hafen, director of the book project, said the reaction of the community proved that the "old Dixie Spirit" is alive and well.

"If I personally ever have to face disaster, I pray it will be in a community as full of goodness as this one," he said.

Originally published January 12, 2006 - The Spectrum, St George, UT