Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 17, 1993 TAG: 9307170131
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID REED ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I got wiped out in the flood, and I know what those people are going through," said Thomas, who had his store reconstructed with a higher foundation.
Thomas called 21 owners of small grocery stores in the Roanoke Valley this week - including several that suffered flood damage in 1985 and 1992 - and asked if they would donate money for bottled water deliveries to the Midwest.
"I haven't been turned down by any of them," he said.
Quibell Corp. is providing cases of its spring water at production cost, half the retail price, and paying for the shipping, about $1,000 per tractor-trailer trip.
On Wednesday and Thursday, $36,222 was sent to Quibell, enough for six truckloads of 990 cases of spring water - more than 4,630 gallons worth. Quibell marketing director Morgan Chilson said donations continued to flow Friday and she expected more truckloads of water will be heading to Des Moines, Iowa, next week.
About 250,000 in Des Moines were in their sixth day without running water Friday and the water works manager said many wouldn't get it back until the end of next week.
"The East Coast has gotten quite a bit of help after hurricanes and other natural disasters, and we thought this would be a very good opportunity to repay the favors," Chilson said.
The Richmond Area Clergy Association has mobilized churches to help victims of Midwest floods. The association called on churches and synagogues in the area to take up offerings this weekend.
In other relief efforts in Richmond, radio station WRXL-FM, Dick Strauss Ford, Federal Express and Bullets fast-food restaurants are combining to airlift bottled water, insect repellent and Pedialyte, a formula that replenishes fluids in dehydrated babies, to flood victims.
A convoy of trucks loaded with donations will leave Richmond for the Midwest on Monday as part of "Operation High Water."
The Navy this week sent two F14 jets from the Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach to take low-altitude photographs of flooded areas around St. Louis.
The photographs will be used to measure flood damage and help determine the amount of relief needed.
by CNB