A disaster relief centre is opened in Waterville for the population struggling with the consequences of the floods

Waterville is still struggling with the effects of the floods that devastated the community in June.

Walk through the neighborhoods south of Lake Tetonka and you’ll see rebuilt homes, flooded lawns, and the occasional homeowner struggling with mold problems.

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“The most heartbreaking thing is all the houses over there,” says Kathy Borderbruggen, pointing to the street across from her house. “You could see people taking furniture and belongings away, and that was even worse.”

Many residents are still trying to recover from the rains that began in the region in mid-June and lasted for days.

Geri Thienes says her street was under water on June 21 – 38 centimeters in 30 hours.

“We were above the sandbags,” she remembers. “The walls of the sandbags gave way and we were underwater for a very long time afterwards.”

Thienes says her family ran five-centimeter pumps to keep their house dry.

But then things got worse.

“All the water was up to our waist under the house and destroyed the entire subfloor and everything underneath,” says Thienes.

Therefore, many here are relieved that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened a disaster relief center on Friday.

“Every disaster is unique,” explains Cassie Kohn, a spokeswoman for FEMA. “For those affected, it can be one of the worst days they have ever experienced.”

In the new center in the town hall, citizens can apply for financial support from the federal government, download documents and find out about other aid organizations.

“This can include assistance with urgent needs, help with a temporary move if your home is uninhabitable, as well as home repairs and assistance with loss of personal property,” Kohn says.

Borderbruggen says she ripped out all the drywall and insulation from her garage and discovered an even worse problem.

“When we got here and the water finally receded, the walls started to get quite moldy.”

According to FEMA, the application process for assistance is relatively quick.

Kohn says the support approval can be given to applicants within a week to ten days after their homes or properties have been inspected for damage.

The agency plans to open another office in Faribault on Saturday.

A FEMA spokesman said the facilities would remain open as long as there is need, which is at least a few weeks.

The Thienes family now estimates the damage to their house at around $100,000.

But they say they were not alone.

“There were great people from Samaritans Purse and other organizations who came and helped with the cleanup and stuff,” Thienes recalls. “Volunteers and people who tried to keep us going.”