From Deseret News archives:
Lawmakers rally to raise funds for flood victims
"We owe $190,000 on a house that doesn't exist, and we can't just walk away," said Thorpe, 68, who moved to St. George just a week before the floods destroyed her new home. "We now find ourselves at this age with a mortgage that we'll never live to see paid off."
The plight of many residents left homeless and facing bills for demolition, reconstruction and temporary housing prompted state legislators to rally at a Wednesday night fund-raiser for money to get those residents back on their feet and out of debt.
Insurance payments have been partial or non-existent for many of the residents.
Although federal relief funds and state aid have helped improve infrastructure in the flood-ravaged areas in southern Utah, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. noted that there was no money to help citizens individually.
"I can't think of anything more heart-wrenching than seeing a home washed away and never seen again," Huntsman said. "The Legislature has thought about the human beings involved."
The fund-raising effort has already collected roughly $75,000 and aims to garner more than $1 million for flood victims, said Jim Bennett, who coordinated the event. At $500 a plate, Wednesday night's fund-raiser brings the Legislature much closer to that goal, he added.
The money will be funneled to the Virgin River/Santa Clara Flood Relief Fund and will be used to help residents rebuild and possibly even pay off mortgages for homes no longer standing. About $3.5 million is needed to get the majority of flood victims back on their feet, Bennett said.
The donation drive is particularly impressive, Bennett added, because legislators have found time to support the cause during the busy final days of the legislative session.
"What's been really satisfying is that everybody wants to be involved. Everybody wants to help," he said. "It's close to home and we can see the impact of helping neighbors."
Contributions by Time Warner, Siegfried and Jensen, and Robert J. DeBry & Associates have also funded a commercial spot featuring Huntsman and 7-year-old Spanish Fork resident Jakelyne Devey. Jakelyne collected $5,000 for flood relief by putting donation jars in local convenience stores.
"She was watching TV and saw the houses falling into the water and she said 'Mom, I'll get some bottles,' " Jakelyne's mom, Deb Devey, said.
Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, who is leading the legislative fund-raising effort, said the commercials will advertise a call center where residents can make donations. Most importantly, the spots will make sure the flood disaster does not disappear from the public eye.
"We don't want the individuals to be left behind in this," he said.
For Thorpe, the donation drive is just another example of how Utahns have rallied around the area's flood victims. Thorpe and her husband were forced to buy a new home after the floods and now may be facing demolition costs just to remove their old house.
"We lost our home, but we have a community," she said. "The community has wrapped its arms around us. We're standing back in awe of what's being done."
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