Help the Cooks Recover from Flood Devastation

Jenny Sheehan is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Marty and Sue Cook.

Donation protected

Hello friends and family. As many of you know, my best friend and co-worker, Sue Cook and her family are currently displaced due to torrential rain that occurred in Southeast, South Dakota.

Sue and Marty Cook lived on McCook Lake, SD. Yes, the Cooks lived on McCook Lake. Marty had purchased and lived in the home on Northshore Drive since 2018. Sue moved to SD and into her new home when she and Marty married in June of 2021. They have been enjoying their newly renovated home. Most recently with the celebration of Sue's youngest daughter, Sophie's graduation from Morningside University.

On Sunday, June 23rd at 11:00pm, (with little notice), Sue, Marty, Sophie, and their two dogs were evacuated from their home due to flooding that resulted from a mitigation effort by county officials to lessen the effects of flooding in North Sioux City, SD. The flooding and mitigation effort was a result of torrential rain upwards of 15 inches that fell from Thursday to Saturday in southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa, and southwest Minnesota.

Unfortunately, when county officials decided to mitigate the flood waters from the Big Sioux River to lessen the damage in North Sioux City, the diverted water went straight into McCook Lake. This caused devastating damage. Homes were destroyed, roads were washed out, sinkholes opened up, and a railroad bridge was lost.

The Cooks' house was severely damaged, and the local officials have deemed their house unsafe. As a temporary solution, they are currently residing in a cottage offered by a good friend of Marty's. Unfortunately, they have lost many of their belongings, including irreplaceable memorabilia. Marty and Sue are not sure when, if ever, they will be able to return to their home on McCook Lake.

In 2021, McCook Lake was removed from a flood plane, so they do not have flood insurance. I began this GoFundMe to assist Sue, Marty and Sophie during this unsure and difficult time. And to hopefully help the Cooks get back on their feet. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and donation. It is greatly appreciated.