PAY IT FORWARD

If Today Was Your Last Day lyrics-Nickelback


My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?
What if, what if, if today was your last day?

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are

So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
'Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

Family deals with Hepatitis A outbreak
Pam Cunningham Reporter
July 17, 2009

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - Local health departments continue to confirm 19 cases across Rock Island, Henry, Mercer and Woodford Counties.

And those related to victims of the outbreak are starting to get vaccinated.

The Harts visited the Rock Island County health Department for their first shot in a series to combat Hepatitis A. Their son, Dylan, is infected with the disease.

Angela Hart describes his symptoms, "He got a fever, thought it was just the flu, laid around didn't eat or drink much then his eyes were yellow so I took him to the doctor."

Her husband Shawn explains why they are frustrated, "11 year-old healthy boy then all of a sudden it's like somebody flipped a switch."

Dylan Hart is not the only one. And as a precaution this McDonalds in Milan shut its doors and cleaned after the Rock Island County Health Department told them of their concerns.

Shawn Hart, "I'm just hoping for the best, I hope he gets better and hopefully they find out where it came from and take care of it so nobody else has to go through it."

The Rock Island County Health Department is still investigating but does not know where it started. But says they are taking measures to stop the spread.

One of those measures is vaccinations. Angela Hart says, "Yeah we have to come back in six months and get another shot. We don't have it."

It can be spread from sharing food or drink and if food was prepared by someone infected who didn't wash their hands after going to the bathroom.

Angela Hart is angry, "They don't think about washing their hands and what it could do and now my baby is sick because someone didn't wash their hands."

Washing hands is something we can all do. As for the McDonalds in Milan, owner Kevin Murphy says, they would never jeopardize the health and safety of its customers. And say other businesses are involved in this outbreak.

We were told that McDonalds plans to be open Saturday for business.

The Rock Island Health Department says vaccines will be available to some on Monday.
Copyright © 2009, WQAD-TV

At least a 3 day supply of water (1 gallon per person per day)

A 3-5 day supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food and non electric can opener and plastic utensils.

Rain gear, sturdy shoes and a change of clothes, underwear and hygiene products.

Blankets, bedding or sleeping bags.

A first aid kit and prescription medications.

A list of family physicians and important medical information.

Special items for infants, pets, the elderly, the infirmed and family members with disabilities.

A battery –powered radio, flashlight and plenty of batteries; tools duct tape pen and paper and household bleach.

Identification, credit cards, cash and photocopies of important family documents including insurance information.

And an extra set of car and house keys.

A tragedy of two towns
Oakville and Gulfport present remarkably similar, yet surprisingly different recovery stories. By WILLIAM SMITH

wsmith@thehawkeye.com


Two small communities just 22 miles apart, one in Iowa, the other in Illinois, were all but destroyed a year ago.

Oakville was wiped off the map June 14, 2008, after a levee east of town failed, permitting the Iowa River to swallow nearly every structure with water up to 10 feet deep.

Three days later, a 300-plus-foot levee breach dumped 70 billion gallons of water into Henderson County, Ill., and destroyed Gulfport, Ill.

The stories of the two towns, both of which had populations of less than 500 people before the flood (Oakville had a population of about 400 while Gulfport had half that), are remarkably similar, yet surprisingly different.

The biggest difference was in Oakville, where the fast-moving Iowa River that overwhelmed the levee tore through town on its way to the Mississippi River, disappeared nearly as fast as it came. Downriver, souring floodwater remained trapped in low-lying Gulfport for four months.

In both towns, the floodwater brought mold and possible disease, but reconstruction started quickly in Oakville and just now is beginning in Gulfport.

Residents in both communities share a burning desire to rebuild.

A common goal, vision in Oakville

To get a feel of how Oakville is bouncing back, one only needs to drive through its few streets or attend one of the many parties and open houses hosted over the past year. More than 140 people have returned to the town, either living in their reconstructed homes or in FEMA trailers.

"I think Oakville is a good example of what can happen when people share a common goal and a common vision," said Dan Buck, Oakville's project director.

The last flood debris that littered yards and side-streets was hauled away last week to the landfill, leaving the town nearly as spic-and-span as it was before the flood. Green grass is springing up where mud was caked last year, and a weekend-long homecoming celebration featuring a fish fry, volunteer supper, petting zoo, kids games and tour of homes is scheduled for this next weekend.

"This is a close-knit community, and people have roots here," Buck said. "I have heard time and again from people that this is a river town and we are a river people."

Eighty Oakville homes were condemned last August and about 50 remain for the wrecking ball that will start tearing down homes this month. A $1.6 million demolition contract has been awarded to First Construction Group of Burlington.

More than 100 residents applied for government buyouts, but many others have either restored their homes or plan to construct new ones after the demolition. FEMA's Long Term Recovery Plan, which was introduced to residents in November, brought forth the idea of residential and commercial zoning in the downtown district.

The idea behind the modest plan is to get at least five businesses downtown over the next eight years, which would create a tax base that could support necessities such as sewer and water.

Buck noted that city revenue will be down more than 66 percent due to the flood, but said his more immediate concern is what happens to Oakville beyond next year.

"I think Long Term Recovery worked really diligently to set some goals and create ideas. Some of those were practical, and I think some people realized that Oakville can be better than it was before the flood," Buck said.

Buck said the demolition is the first of three major projects that will improve Oakville. That will be followed by restoration of the city's storm drain system, which is in its engineering phase. Buck hopes to use hazard mitigation pay to replace 7,500 feet of four-inch pipe with 12-inch pipe, and the entire project will take about 90 days.

After that, all the streets will be resurfaced and seal-coated, which will take another 60 days. Buck hopes both projects will be finished by winter.

"I think with the restoration of services and the removal of debris, it will make the town a more desirable place for residents," he said.

While Buck is confident many residents will return after the demolition, he doesn't own a crystal ball. Oakville will move forward, but it's impossible to tell how many residents will be on board.

"It's hard to say what's going to happen after those houses are demolished," Buck said.

Gulfport gets slow start

The day after the Mississippi River engulfed Gulfport and 28,000 acres of Henderson County, The Hawk Eye's front page read "Gulfport Gone."

Water was 10 feet deep in Gulfport, and the levees designed to protect the community prevented the water from receding. The drainage district had only one operable pump, and it wasn't until June 25 that the county received a disaster declaration from the state.

It took another three weeks for contractors to come in and pump out the floodwater, and it took until Sept. 8 for residents to be allowed to regularly go in and begin cleaning their homes. Mold and possible disease festered in those stagnant floodwaters for four months, prompting the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to hand out white hazmat suits to residents entering town.

For a while, it seemed like the headline "Gulfport Gone Forever" would have been more appropriate. But taking a look at Gulfport now is like taking a look at Oakville six months ago. The devastation has been cleaned up, confusing questions still linger and many of the residents want to come back.

Whether they will is an open question.

"We've lost everything. We're starting over from scratch," said Gulfport Mayor Rich Myers. "I hope by the end of summer, you're going to see a real change in this town.

"Just like any town, you want to make it better than it was."

How that will be accomplished is uncertain, and there remains a litany of hard decisions residents must make as to whether they want to come back.

FEMA will proceed with the deaccrediation of the levee under the expectation that the county will not be able to re-certify the levee to a 100-year level -- the level that existed before last summer's flood -- in a timely manner. FEMA also awarded funds to start a hazard mitigation plan, which is required if local officials proceed with a buyout.

Henderson County Board Chairman Marty Lafary said the county is working to shore up low spots on the levee in Henderson County Drainage District No. 2, though it will not proceed with an accreditation until residents have had a chance weigh the two options at a public meeting.

"We're going to try and get everything back like it was. We want to give people the opportunity to get back to where they were," Lafary said. "We haven't heard a lot about the buyouts. They try to make it sound sweet, but they sugarcoat it a lot."

Only 25 residents have returned to Gulfport, and 24 homes have been demolished. Myers said another eight homes will be condemned this month. That's more than half of the 45 homes in town.

Biggest option

As evident in Oakville, buyouts don't necessarily mean the end of the town. The Oakville Development Corp. was established to buy local properties targeted for buyout to develop them rather than leave them for green space -- a requirement if a property owner accepts a government buyout.

Tonya Lanz, who coordinates the scheduling of volunteer efforts in Oakville, said the Oakville Development Corp. is hoping to buy some properties soon.

"We are just waiting to see if we get funding from the federal government," she said.

Considering Gulfport's fate has yet to be decided, that's an option too far in the future for Myers to consider right now. A long-term recovery plan like that of Oakville's also has yet to be discussed, but Myers said Oakville is providing a good template.

"We're trying to decide what our next step is. It starts with what the residents want to do," Myers said. "They are waiting for their houses to be demolished, and they are waiting on the levee to see if they want to come back."

There's no question what Myers wants to do. He has lived in the village since he was 2. His family lost homes and structures on nine different properties in Gulfport.

"I always knew I was coming back as long as I was allowed to," he said. "People want to come back because it's so peaceful and quiet. It's like living in the country, only you're five minutes from town."

Volunteers

Bringing a town back to life is about baby-steps. Like a toddler gaining confidence, Oakville already has started its journey.

In lieu of a buyout, Gulfport is ready to take its first steps toward rehabilitation. Debris removal began in January, and the ADM grain elevator and Sam's Speakeasy Saloon became the first businesses to reopen.

But it's impossible to rebuild a town without the help of volunteers. Shortly after the flood, church groups from around the country converged in Oakville to provide free labor and emotional support, gutting homes and hanging drywall.

These days, most volunteers are funneled through the Apostolic Christian Relief Organization. Lanz has been assigning up to 50 volunteers a week to rebuild homes and clean-up debris in Oakville.

"I actually see a bright future for Oakville," Lanz said.

Lanz has been seeing such an influx of faith-based volunteers that she now is sending some of them to Gulfport to help with demolition clean-up, and eventually, rebuilding.

While many perceive Gulfport as a town floundering without outside help, faith-based organizations have been there since the beginning.

Monmouth, Ill.-based Pay It Forward Ministries has a mission of putting aside personal differences and doctrine to provide compassionate relief to individuals who have fallen into hardship.

"We have people that come (from Gulfport), and their stress levels are up. They feel completely forgotten," said Shawn Moede of Pay It Forward Ministries. "Their FEMA money is gone. There are people who would like to come home, but they can't because their money is gone."

She said the key to operating a successful volunteer organization is providing people with what they need now rather than what they needed a year ago -- and now, Gulfport residents need building materials.

"A lot of these people can't afford building supplies. They are a long way from being back to where they are," she said.

Further burdening a possible rebuilding effort in Gulfport is the town's seedy reputation. But Moede said the bars and strip clubs present a facade that prevents people from seeing the real residents.

"People say 'It's just Sin City.' I know good people who want to go back there," she said.

Moede has issued a request for almost anything people are willing to give, including building supplies, food pantry items and furniture. Moede said the purpose of her organization is not to duplicate services fulfilled by the county, but to fill the gaps. She also hopes to fill those gaps left by volunteer groups that will be coming to Gulfport at the end of the month.

"Life will never be close to the same for a lot of people," Moede said. "It wasn't uncommon to have someone call at 2 a.m. in the morning trying not to do something stupid. We still get calls in the middle of the night."

Moede said that before the flood about 50 to 75 people used the ministry's service monthly before. That number swelled to 1,500 people after the June 17 levee breach.

One year from now

Now that a year has passed since the water rose, residents in Oakville and Gulfport are wondering where they will be in another year.

Buck freely admitted that he doesn't know. The town's three major projects should be completed by the end of 2009. How many residents return remains to be seen, but a permanent levee protecting the town should be in place by fall.

"There are some factors involved, and one of them is the economy," Buck said. "How will the economy affect people who want to live in a rural setting?"

The global financial meltdown did not occur until three months after the flood. The economy looms as big a factor in Gulfport as it does in Oakville. That's because Henderson County has been placed on a poverty warning list by the Mid-America Institute on Poverty, which considers such varied factors as teen births and unemployment.

Economic hardship for those recovering from a natural disaster presents a double-whammy.

There are few avenues of financial assistance outside the U.S. Small Business Administration loan program, and many residents are upset with the amount of red tape they had to deal with to obtain the loans. Moede said it's an issue her ministry is confronting with everyone, not just flood victims.

"We know the numbers (of homeless) are on the rise, and tent cities are popping up everywhere," she said.

Myers said that six months from now, he hopes to have half the Gulfport residents back in town. Though the county is working to get the levee up to a 100-year levee, Drainage District No. 2 taxpayers voted in April to proceed with a 500-year levee that would cost an estimated $37 million.

And maybe, just maybe, Gulfport will be back on its way to where it used to be.

"Once they learn the fate of the levees, you'll be seeing people come back to town. A 500-year levee is possible, and both drainage districts are looking for ways to offset the costs of that," Lafary said.

For now, demolition will continue in Gulfport, a town that suffered the same tragedy as Oakville with a very different set of circumstances.

"When you try to compare our flood with Oakville, the only thing comparable is that the flood went through and destroyed homes," Lafary said.

Gulfport still not back to normal

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By Matt Hutton
Daily Review Atlas
Thu Jun 11, 2009, 07:49 PM CDT

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MONMOUTH — Many people in the area don't know much about Pay it Forward ministries. Those who do have often fallen upon the hardest of hard times.

Pay It Forward ministries is a non-profit, faith-based community action group located in Henderson and Warren counties. Chairwoman and case manager Shawn Moede said the group is active in disaster relief and has spent much of its time and resources working with those in Gulfport and Henderson County in recovering from last summer's flood.

Several members of the organization attended the Illinois faith-based Emergency Preparedness Initiative meeting in Springfield last month. There, they had a chance to listen and speak with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, among others.

"Speaking to (Nagin) in a one-on-one basis, we gained the understanding that what we're doing in Gulfport and Henderson County is a parallel to New Orleans," Moede said.

While the size of the affected area is different, both were growing communities that were essentially wiped out by the flood. Moede said the last estimates indicated only nine families and 26 people had been able to move back to Gulfport.

"The people are not there, their lives are not back to normal and the people are not back to normal," she said.

Another similarity between New Orleans and Gulfport is that most people were struggling financially, even before the flooding, making recovery difficult if not impossible. That is especially true because many families still must make mortgage, tax and insurance payments on their flooded properties, while having to live somewhere else and pay the same expenses again.

"The process is very slow. What people don't understand, unless they're in that area, is the money is not there to rebuild. For a lot of people it's not an option," Moede said. "A lot of people were at or below the poverty level to begin with. Take everything away and they did not have bank accounts to fall back on. So, you have to turn to FEMA money just so you can survive. Then you've depleted that money. How can you go back?"

Moede said Pay it Forward tries to help relieve some of the stress for those struggling to get back on their feet. Because they draw on a pool of volunteer services, Pay it Forward is able to do a lot of networking and legwork for people, be it finding a job, paying a power bill or getting food, clothing, furniture or supplies from a food pantry or other charitable organization.

"Beyond that, if you need someone just to listen to, we offer crisis intervention," Moede said. "We try to offset stresses and make life as normal as possible. But normal for them is not the same as normal for you and I and not what it was for them before."

At the same time, many people outside of the areas directly hit by the flood were affected. For example, some Warren County residents lost jobs because they couldn't get to Burlington while the roads were flooded or because their employers lost their businesses. The intense stress of the situations have also caused some to lose their marriages.

"It's impacted people who never touched water. Their lives will never be the same," she said.

Pay it Forward is also prepared to step up in the event of other disasters, several of which have been in the news recently.

As part of the Emergency Preparedness Initiative, members of the organization met with Illinois Department of Health Director Damon Arnold and went through training to respond to a pandemic. On Thursday the World Health Organization declared the swine flu, also known as H1N1, as the first pandemic flu in more than 40 years.

This week, Moede is at a training seminar for intervention teams that would come into a school or area following a crisis, like a school shooting or Wednesday's violence at the Holocaust Museum in Washington.

"I feel blessed when I'm able to help someone," Moede said.

Pay it Forward has offices in Warren County at the First Street Armoury and in Henderson County at 111 S. Sixth St. Oquawka.
For more information call 309-313-4973.

Daisy and Brownie girl scouts to collect items for Pay It Forward Ministries


MONMOUTH – The Daisy Girl Scout troop 8988 has chosen Pay It Forward Ministries as their summer service project.

The troop has invited Brownie troop 8733 to join them.

The Daisy troop girls are made up of Kindergarten through first grade students and the Brownie troops are made up of second through third grade students.

The troops will be collecting items from Tuesday, June 30 through Monday, July 13.

Items can be given to the girls as they go door-to-door or can be left at the First Street Armoury, located at 215 South First Street, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Items should be identified as being for the troop project when they're dropped off.

The scouts will also have a booth set up at Monmouth Fest on July 8 on the northeast corner of the square.

For more information, call Tracy at 309-221-3479.

Pay It Forward Ministries is located in Monmouth at the First Street Armoury. They also have a location in Oquawka.

The organization aids in relief of individuals and families with emergency needs as well as those suffering from economic hardship.

To contact the organization, call 309-313-4973.

Some of the items needed are monitory donations, food, office supplies, pet supplies, cleaning supplies, kitchen items, hair items, first aid supplies, laundry care items, totes, personal care items, diapers, bottles, blankets, clothing and miscellaneous items.

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