Scottie Kerns bows her head during a prayer vigil held at Karl E. Cole Sports Complex on Monday evening, one year following the flood that caused many Osawatomie residents, including Kerns, to flee their homes. Kerns just returned to a residence on First Street this week. (Photo by Gene Morris)
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Fifth Street Flood Fest
Flood Victims Celebrate One Year’s Worth Of Recovery
By Catherine Odson, catherineodson@miconews.com
Under a tent next to Fifth Street, four infants crawl around in the shade, sharing toys and, in the eyes of their parents, rebuilding a neighborhood from the ground up.
Around them, adults eat freshly grilled burgers and barbecue, reminiscing on the year past and the flood that devastated most of the surrounding homes.
It was a celebration of a year’s worth of recovery that brought the neighborhood together.
And the children — and babies, in particular — are a walking example of new life in this neighborhood, residents say.
“It means our community is coming back,” Cathy Leaver said.
Residents around the south end of Fifth Street, which was evacuated during last summer’s flood, gathered near Paul and Vicki Obermeier’s house to celebrate the area’s recovery, something Paul had planned since they first returned to their homes.
“I don’t think the water had dried up, and he said we were going to celebrate a year from now,” John Wastlund said.
Across the street from the picnic, work on the Wastlunds’ house has ended for the day. Many homes in the area have been gutted and refurbished, but work is still underway on others.
Everyone outside the flood says it’s over, Becky Woods said, but for this neighborhood, the recovery process is ongoing. When Christmas came, “we were still on the Fourth of July,” she said.
Woods and Sean Sierman just moved back into their house about a block away, grateful for the help they received from family and friends.
“It feels good to be home,” she said. “It’s great, actually.”
For Mary Evelyn Schlesener, the party was a celebration of the end of a year she doesn’t want to repeat.
Floodwaters crept into her house just two and a half hours after she evacuated, and in the months since, she endured a fire and hailstorm before having hip replacement surgery last month.
Through each, her neighbors have been behind her.
“They’re awful good neighbors,” she said. “Everyone of them.”
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Around them, adults eat freshly grilled burgers and barbecue, reminiscing on the year past and the flood that devastated most of the surrounding homes.
It was a celebration of a year’s worth of recovery that brought the neighborhood together.
And the children — and babies, in particular — are a walking example of new life in this neighborhood, residents say.
“It means our community is coming back,” Cathy Leaver said.
Residents around the south end of Fifth Street, which was evacuated during last summer’s flood, gathered near Paul and Vicki Obermeier’s house to celebrate the area’s recovery, something Paul had planned since they first returned to their homes.
“I don’t think the water had dried up, and he said we were going to celebrate a year from now,” John Wastlund said.
Across the street from the picnic, work on the Wastlunds’ house has ended for the day. Many homes in the area have been gutted and refurbished, but work is still underway on others.
Everyone outside the flood says it’s over, Becky Woods said, but for this neighborhood, the recovery process is ongoing. When Christmas came, “we were still on the Fourth of July,” she said.
Woods and Sean Sierman just moved back into their house about a block away, grateful for the help they received from family and friends.
“It feels good to be home,” she said. “It’s great, actually.”
For Mary Evelyn Schlesener, the party was a celebration of the end of a year she doesn’t want to repeat.
Floodwaters crept into her house just two and a half hours after she evacuated, and in the months since, she endured a fire and hailstorm before having hip replacement surgery last month.
Through each, her neighbors have been behind her.
“They’re awful good neighbors,” she said. “Everyone of them.”