10,000 Utah flood books are sold

ST. GEORGE — The initial 10,000 copies of the documentary book and DVD "Portraits of Loss — Stories of Hope" have sold out, and a second printing has been ordered.

"We felt that if demand was still that great, this would still be an excellent way to continue to raise money for our local flood victims," Randy Wilkinson said in announcing the decision to order more copies of the glossy, full-color book and DVD.

All proceeds from the sale of 5,000 copies from this second press run will be donated to the nonprofit organization Virgin River/Santa Clara River Flood Relief fund. A board of trustees will determine how to release the funds to those who apply for relief.

"We continued to get such an overwhelming response from local people, as well as people from neighboring communities and states, asking where they could get a copy of the book," said Wilkinson, president of the Dixie College Foundation, which is managing the second press run.

The college foundation looked for an underwriter to cover the printing costs and found a willing participant, he said.

"Without hesitation, Zions Bank stepped up to the plate and volunteered to foot the bill for this second printing," Wilkinson said, which meant all proceeds would continue to go to help area flood victims.

Paragon Press also was able to fit a second press run into its schedule, he added, which means the books should arrive around the second week of April.

The project was initiated and completed by volunteers, with local businesses picking up the costs of producing the two items that document the January floods.

To date, about $1.25 million has been raised and donated to the flood-relief fund. Another $1.8 million is needed to meet the identified needs of those who lost property or homes, according to the group's Web site, www.utahfloodrelief.com.

So far, the nonprofit group has released $100,000 to help shore up six homes that were undercut by the rolling floodwaters in early January.

And while southern Utah residents continue to wait and worry about the prospects of a high spring runoff, state emergency-services officials are urging homeowners to purchase flood insurance.

"Look at the heartache and huge financial losses Utahns have already experienced this year," said Ryan Pietramali, the state coordinating officer from the Utah Division of Emergency Services helping to lead recovery efforts in St. George.