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Fox News
2 days ago
- Fox News
Texas flood recovery volunteers find dignity in helping victims
Janice Riley took off her shoe, thinking a rock had gotten stuck inside while she was volunteering in flood-devastated Kerrville, Texas, but was surprised to find a bent nail lodged in the sole, just centimeters from her foot. "It reminds me of the verse that says, 'How beautiful are the feet that bring good news', she said while laughing." Riley was working along the Guadalupe River, but that nail didn't stop her from cleaning up mud-soaked houses and attempting to piece together devastated lives. As she walked into each house, she saw the aftermath of the flood marked by water stains several feet high on the wall. TEXAS FLOOD SURVIVORS LOOK FOR GOD IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY While removing gunk, sweeping and prepping homes for installation, Riley ran into a homeowner in search of meaningful family heirlooms in a sea of debris and filth. Amid the rubble, Riley stumbled upon a wooden box already beginning to mold, filled with gold and silver. As she and the homeowner opened it, a sigh of relief overcame them, since the survivor had prayed she would find it. "You couldn't help but cry at her excitement of finding those treasures," said Riley. "It wouldn't mean anything to us, but it meant something to her." To Riley, that's what matters, and she will remember that as the highlight of volunteering. But then she paused. The moment she reconciled the gravity of her community's situation, she began to cry. "It's not going to be back to normal anytime soon," she said. "There's still water over the low water crossing, and just how much of the river is destroyed, and the area." The tears started to flow. The once beautiful cypress trees, decades old, that stood beautifully, are now gone. She said she feels nothing's going to be the same. "It just kind of sinks in, it's not like a week and a month will pass this, and we'll be back to normal," she said. That new reality survivors face is something Michelle Annette saw as a volunteer for the Salvation Army, where flood victims are surviving out of warehouses and donation bins. As she arrived, on her first day, she was assigned to organize clothing donations for victims. Sounds easy enough. Until Annette was given a direction that didn't sit right with her. "If you come across any clothing items that you think could potentially be used for funerals for the victims, put 'em in bins over here," Michelle was told. "We're going to set those aside." That's when it hit her. "If I pull out a nice dress or something that was donated, I have to think, would this be something I would want my sister buried in, or my aunt buried in or something?" she pondered. 'RIVER OF ANGELS' MEMORIAL RISES IN KERRVILLE AS FLOOD VICTIMS REMEMBERED To her, it's more than just a bin. It represents humanity. How can an outfit she picks begin to encapsulate the body of a stranger, once full of life? Not too far away, Lisa Aguillen, a San Antonio resident, also had a moment with death she couldn't shake. As she drove down to Kerrville with friends in their ministry's van, they came upon what seemed to be a horrific movie scene. Men clouded by smoke as they used chainsaws to cut through huge mounds of trees. The rhythmic whooping grew louder in the air as search helicopters made their way for the missing. Then came the moment that changed her. "I saw a body lifted out of a river in a bag," she said. "I was very angry with God on that drive home. Why, God, did you allow those children to pass in such a horrific manner?" she asked. As she contemplated that question, Annette remained at the Salvation Army, trying to stay present and focusing on the survivors piling into the warehouse. The more that flowed in, the more heartbreaking stories she would overhear. One man whose house was washed away stood out. "He had nothing but the clothes on his back and the shoes on his feet. He didn't have his ID, and he didn't have a car," said Annette. She handed him underwear, a razor and a shirt. At that moment, Annette realized he would have to rebuild his life with those items. FAITH BRINGS LIGHT TO DEVASTATED TEXAS TOWN AFTER DEADLY FLOODING DISASTER Seeing the wreckage in Kerrville, Aguillen understood that even with donations, survivors had little. As she reflected, she was more motivated to make a difference. Aguillen knew she could rely on contacts from her insurance company, Texas United Insurance Services, LLC, for donations for a cause bigger than herself. "I came to the office this week and started calling every business owner in my book," she said. So far, she has raised $5,000 and plans to drive back down to Kerrville and hand it out to people in need. Although she feels it may not be a lot of money, she says every bit counts. "I want to see these people go to the bank and cash and have cash in hand," she said. "I can bless several, several families with $500 a piece, and that's what I intend on doing." Although the volunteers, Riley, Annette and Aguillen faced hardship while spending hours putting themselves through hard work, they realized their service had in their community and brought power to the lives of those they were serving. Annette summed it up in one word. "Time," she said. "It is our most valuable commodity, and what makes it so valuable is that we can't make more of it. So how we decide to spend it speaks so much more than just donating."
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Washington Post
With scores still missing from Texas flood, a quest to ‘find every soul'
HUNT, Texas — From the north bank of the Guadalupe River, Rough Vine watched as a team of searchers in neon yellow shirts circled a mound of crushed trees near the water's edge. Suddenly his face turned grim. It was his 10th day volunteering with the massive effort to find bodies — and to provide solace to the families most devastated by Texas Hill Country's historic flooding on the Fourth of July. Often working solo, Vine had maneuvered his skid steer and flatbed trailer to clear tons of debris carried downstream by the raging waters. So far, the contractor had helped recover the remains of eight people.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Former Vero Beach Mayor Mary Beth McDonald dies at 73 following lengthy illness
VERO BEACH — Mary Beth McDonald, a former City Council member and mayor from 2005-2006, died July 4 after a lengthy illness. She was 73. McDonald was elected to the City Council in 2004 and served until 2006. She was heralded for her leadership during hurricanes Frances, Jeanne and Wilma. "Her resolve and hard work were unparalleled during her time on council," said Dr. John W. McDonald, her husband of 48 years. "Though she served only one term, it was an eventful term." John McDonald will remember his wife for her optimism, humor and honesty, he said. After leaving office, McDonald was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees, and served from 2013-2021. Historic hurricanes When hurricanes Frances and Jeanne hit the city in 2004, McDonald's communication skills and optimism shone through. "She was so instrumental in getting the city through what is probably its darkest hour," said former City Clerk Tammy Bursick. "She was so focused and driven. I really admired her for that." The following year, Hurricane Wilma brought immense flooding, seemingly setting the city's recovery back. But not on McDonald's watch. "We couldn't have recovered as quickly as we did without her," said Bursick. "She was so graceful during that time, and her communication skills and leadership were a site to behold." She facilitated rebuilding until the end of her term, said Bursick. "The hurricanes really are the big story of her time on council," said John McDonald. "She hardly got a break during that time because of the storms." Long-time resident McDonald — originally of Chevy Chase, Maryland — arrived in Vero Beach in 1982. She and her husband were establishing a dermatology practice after relocating from Washington, D.C. The two were married in 1977, and had two sons, John Lawrence and Patrick Warren. A graduate of FAU with a degree in communications, McDonald's career spanned more than 25 years. She ascended to the role of communications director for the city, wrote freelance for Florida Parenting News, was a speech and drama teacher at St. Edward's School and opened her own marketing agency, One Source Media and Marketing. Other accomplishment during her term on council were facilitating the opening of Quail Valley Golf Club, Costa d'Este Beach Resort and Spa and renovating the Vero Beach Theater. "She really enjoyed her time on council and serving the city in any way she could," said her husband. "She loved Vero Beach." Education news: New state law means some Treasure Coast high schools likely to continue early start times Larry's take: Vero Beach percentage of county population wanes; major challenges faced | Opinion She also was very active in civic organizations, including the Jasmine Circle Garden Club, Florida Medical Association Ladies Auxiliary and Friends of the Riverside Theater. She is survived by her husband, her sons and two sisters, Susan and Martha Widmayer. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 1 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 500 Iris Lane, Vero Beach. The family requests donations to VNA Hospice House, at Nick Slater is TCPalm's Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at and 224-830-2875. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Former Vero Beach Mayor Mary Beth McDonald has passed away at age 73 Solve the daily Crossword
