• Article Photo. Corps member Chanel and team leader Orláith remove a bureau from a flooded barn in Jefferson, SD
    Corps member Chanel and team leader Orláith remove a bureau from a flooded barn in Jefferson, SD
  • Article Photo. Maple 2 team member Will removes drywall in a basement in Canton, SD.
    Maple 2 team member Will removes drywall in a basement in Canton, SD.

By: Colton Carter

In July, a flood occurred In Lincoln and Union Counties in South Dakota that filled basements and swept away crops. Over 1,100 homes were flooded. NCCC team Maple 2 assisted Lutheran Social Services with the recovery efforts. The team also served alongside other organizations such as Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief.

The NCCC team assisted homeowners by removing damaged insulation and drywall, removing possessions from basements, and spraying sanitizing chemicals to kill mold. This labor was crucial for home owners without the money, time, physical ability, or tools to do the work themselves. Maple 2 was able to accomplish work in one day that would take weeks for an individual.

“Our team is small, but we make a world of difference for each of the homeowners we help. It was encouraging to see the big impact we had on individuals. The homeowners were very thankful and welcoming,” said Maple 2 team member Chanel Gist, of Willingboro, New Jersey.

Due to the arrival of more teams from other disaster relief organizations in Canton, the team was transferred to Rapid City in the Black Hills of South Dakota to take part in the cleanup efforts from Winter Storm Atlas. This storm killed thousands of livestock and damaged trees when it hit last October. There were still many downed tree branches and brush piles to clean up even after nine months, some of which posed a fire hazard to homes. The team was able to remove brush from 27 homes while serving in the Black Hills.

Maple 2 completed its disaster project and has already started a new project with the Cedar Rapids Science Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.