Posted at: 08/19/2009 7:17 PM
Updated at: 08/20/2009 8:08 AM
By: Mary Taing

One Group Stays Past 2nd Anniversary

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Today is the two-year anniversary of one of the most devastating floods to ever hit southeast Minnesota.

Six people died, and many homes were destroyed in August 2007.

Many families had initial help from local charity groups, but most of those organizations have since left the area.

Two years ago, a devastating flood rushed through the City of Stockton.

Fast-forward to today, and you'll see the grass is greener and flood damaged homes have been restored.

"It looks nice now all of the debris is gone," says Viola Benicke.

Her house and antique shop is one of the buildings that have been restored.

She says it's the help from volunteers and charity organizations that got her through these last 2 years.

"They were a real blessing. I had men and women in here digging up the mud pulling off the sheet rock, " says Benicke.

But now most of those organizations have left southeast Minnesota.

All but one, The Garvin Brook Disaster Relief Fund in Winona County.

"We want to say good bye to this flood, but we know they're still some things out there that need some help," says Susan Althoff, president of the organization.

Around town, everything looks back to normal.

But what you don't see is the stress families face as while still trying to pay off the cost of rebuilding.

The psychological affects from the flood still linger as well.

"Children especially are still, 'mom it's raining does that mean we're going to have the same thing again?' and they need to be reassured," says Althoff.

That's why the organization is sticking around.

Althoff says they'll continue donation drives and community dinners.

"They've done so much, they've been a wonderful help," says Benicke.

The Garvin Brook Disaster Relief Fund is always in need of donations in order to continue providing services for families and the community.