Severe Storms and Floods impacted Western Washington during October 2003.  Many folks living in Skagit and Snohomish Counties suffered major damages to their homes and property.  WAVOAD's Unmet Needs Committee and Washington Association of Churches - Washington Faith-Based Disaster Recovery Network (WFBDRN)  combined their resources to assist Skagit Interfaith Flood Recovery (SIFR) and The Interfaith Association of Snohomish County (TIASC) to address special needs identified for long term recovery.  Through a special cooperative arrangement WAVOAD member organizations: Christian Reformed World Relief Committee-Disaster Response Services (CRWRC-DRS), Mennonite Disaster Services (MDS) and Church of the Brethren (COB) decided that it would be good stewardship to combine their volunteers and resources to work on long term recovery reconstruction projects in both counties.  Contributions of money from local groups, business, individuals and churches and Church World Service (CWS) denominational partners (Disciples of Christ, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Committee on Relief, The Presbyterian Church USA, Church of the Brethren, Lutheran Disaster Services, CRWRC-DRS and MDS) helped to supply volunteers with meals, housing and transportation as well as building supplies for the reconstruction projects.

"From Disaster to Recovery: We Build a New Home for Laura" is a picture story of one recovery project that is taking place near Arlington in Snohomish County.  Laura's mobile home was destroy by the October 2003 Severe Storm and was referred to WAVOAD by FEMA and State DEM for long term recovery assistance. 

Through a collective decision on the part of WFBDRN, CRWRC-DRS, MDS and COB a decision was made that it would be better stewardship to build a new home for Laura then to attempt to reconstruct her mobile home.  CRWRC-DRS volunteers built and set the footings and foundation for Laura's home beginning Monday August 9 with a concrete pour being completed Friday August 13.  COB generated 5 volunteers from Idaho and a Construction Supervisor-Bill Kaysen from Wenatchee and within one week beginning Monday August 16 we were able to celebrate that the roof for the new home was in place by Friday August 20.  MDS has recruited volunteers with electrical and plumbing skills.  A special word of thanks goes to Arlington Atonement Free Lutheran Church for the use of their church for the volunteer meal preparation and sleeping arrangements.  CRWRC-DRS, COB and MDS each are seeking additional volunteers from within their own respective groups and WAVOAD members to have this new home completed by September 11, 2004.  We encourage you to come back to this WAVOAD web site periodically to see new pictures associated with this project.  

This project would not be possible if it were not for the great cooperative effort on the part of the following folks: