The 2011 Northwest Missouri Flood had huge impact on rural and farmer families.   For 16 weeks, flood water has inundated over 940 houses in Andrew, Atchison, Holt and Buchanan Counties .  As America ’s disaster relief charity, the Red Cross responded to provide assistance with recovery.  

For the first two months, we focused on shelters for the families displaced by flooding. We provided over 13,000 meals and twice that number of bottled water and Gatorade for families, emergency workers and volunteers sand bagging in the four counties. 

Tragedy struck with the loss of Trooper Fred Guthrie.  For 16 days, Red Cross volunteers supported the search effort.  Our efforts supported up to 150 Missouri State Troopers and other emergency workers and up to 30 members of Trooper Guthrie’s family with food, hydration, a cooling station with chilled towels and insect repellant. 

When the Missouri River slowly receded, the Red Cross efforts focused on supporting families with clean-up and recovery.  Red Cross volunteers set-up Flood Recovery Centers and distribution sites in the affected areas for residents to receive clean-up supplies and resources for recovery. 

The Flood Recovery Centers provided an opportunity for flood victims to talk with a Red Cross volunteer caseworker about resources available for clean-up and recovery.   A nurse counseled families on health concerns and safety on returning to flooded homes.  Disaster Mental Health volunteers provided resources on coping with the stress of disasters and the availability of community resources. 

When areas were safe to enter, Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles traveled into flood devastated areas to provide a noon-day meal for families cleaning up. 

The Red Cross had estimated our budget for this recovery effort at $219,000 and we have raised about $46,000. 

This flood has taken a heavy toll on families in our area.  The Red Cross is in need of your help.  We hope you can make a gift for our families affected by flooding.  Your gift will be critical in helping the Red Cross provide assistance to families struggling to recover from this disaster.

As the Red Cross offers comfort and relief to these families, we are grateful to individuals like you who guarantee that we will be there, every step of the way.  Together, we can make sure there are no forgotten families of the flood of 2011.