O'Neill/Kellogg Family Flood Relief
Donation protected
During the early morning hours of August 24, 2016, Freeport, Iowa received somewhere between 8” and 10” of rain. Shawn O’Neill woke for work and noticed the back yard was full of water. He immediately checked the basement and described the sight as a river flowing through it. Opening the front door, he realized the house was surrounded and saw water rushing from an overflowing Upper Iowa River across the roadway into their yard.
The family of three, Shawn, Nicollette, and daughter Serina Kellogg, who was to be starting her senior year at Decorah Schools that same day, waded through waist high water to safety with the aid of the Decorah Fire Department, unable to save anything but themselves and their two pets. They are safe, but the flood waters continued to rise. Residents that have lived in the area for years have never seen the river cross the roadways or reach the areas of Freeport as it did during this flood.
The family was not able to reach the inside of their home until Thursday morning, as the house continued to be encircled by the river waters as dusk approached Wednesday evening. Shawn and his father waded through the still thigh high deep waters to get to the front door Thursday morning. Water appeared to have reached about three inches into the main story of the house and much higher than that throughout the garage. The basement is a total loss, still holding water two steps down from the main floor as of 8:00am Thursday morning. The two vehicles in the driveway still sat with water half way up their sides. The yard likely needs to be pumped out before any real clean up can begin.
The family has spoken with their insurance company and have been told that they are not eligible for help due to not having flood insurance. The two cars in the driveway are also ineligible under their policy.
As I stood helplessly with Nicolette at the end of her driveway this morning, my heart broke for them. With the water receding a bit, a mud caked driveway and mud covered first floor have been revealed. Shawn and his father returned through the water carrying two large trash bags containing only clothes for the displaced family. There is so much work to be done to get this family back in their home. Please help Shawn, Nicolette, and Serina repair their home and replace their belongings and vehicles that were lost in the flood. Thank you for considering a donation to help this family.
KTTC Freeport Flood Coverage
The family of three, Shawn, Nicollette, and daughter Serina Kellogg, who was to be starting her senior year at Decorah Schools that same day, waded through waist high water to safety with the aid of the Decorah Fire Department, unable to save anything but themselves and their two pets. They are safe, but the flood waters continued to rise. Residents that have lived in the area for years have never seen the river cross the roadways or reach the areas of Freeport as it did during this flood.
The family was not able to reach the inside of their home until Thursday morning, as the house continued to be encircled by the river waters as dusk approached Wednesday evening. Shawn and his father waded through the still thigh high deep waters to get to the front door Thursday morning. Water appeared to have reached about three inches into the main story of the house and much higher than that throughout the garage. The basement is a total loss, still holding water two steps down from the main floor as of 8:00am Thursday morning. The two vehicles in the driveway still sat with water half way up their sides. The yard likely needs to be pumped out before any real clean up can begin.
The family has spoken with their insurance company and have been told that they are not eligible for help due to not having flood insurance. The two cars in the driveway are also ineligible under their policy.
As I stood helplessly with Nicolette at the end of her driveway this morning, my heart broke for them. With the water receding a bit, a mud caked driveway and mud covered first floor have been revealed. Shawn and his father returned through the water carrying two large trash bags containing only clothes for the displaced family. There is so much work to be done to get this family back in their home. Please help Shawn, Nicolette, and Serina repair their home and replace their belongings and vehicles that were lost in the flood. Thank you for considering a donation to help this family.
KTTC Freeport Flood Coverage
Organizer and beneficiary
Dana Ward Spry
Organizer
Decorah, IA
Nicolette O"Neilll
Beneficiary
