ROCK VALLEY, IA (KELO) — There are new glimmers of hope in Rock Valley, Iowa after floodwaters swept through town in June of last year.
The water rose quickly, forcing many people from their homes.
In the weeks that followed, volunteers came from all over the area to help people pick up the pieces.
Now, nearly a year later, things still aren’t back to normal, but they’re getting better.
Last June, The Rock River crested at nearly 28 feet, which was five feet more than the previous record. City officials say more than 500 homes were directly impacted by the flooding that followed.
But now, the residents who were displaced have a reason to be optimistic.
Work on new homes is well on its way in Rock Valley.
“The flood affected everybody here in town, but we’re not going to let it affect us going forward. We’re going to work forward with housing, with new opportunities,” Rock Valley Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo said.
Talks of new housing were in the works before disaster struck.
“The flood happened. Then when city powers to be reached out and said, ‘Hey, we have a huge need for housing, for residential homes,” Schafersman Development CEO Byron Schafersman said.
Once work is complete, there will be around 195 new homes and apartments on new or existing lots. Some of them will be at Valley Vue on the east side of town. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds checked out the progress and toured one of the homes.
“I’m proud to say that this city and the surrounding region aren’t just building back, they’re building back stronger, more resilient and more sustainable than ever,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds says the state of Iowa has provided millions of dollars in relief.
“Everything that we asked for back last June, she’s delivered on,” Van Otterloo said.
The sight of new homes and apartments is a sign of hope for Rock Valley, but both Van Otterloo and Reynolds say that recovery is not over.
“To everyone who loves Rock Valley, we’re just getting started,” Van Otterloo said.
“We’re going to continue work every single day, to get this community and northwest Iowa back to where it was before these horrific floods hit,” Reynolds said.
There are also displaced residents who are still living in trailers provided by FEMA. Mayor Van Otterloo says he expects some of them to buy their trailers and make them their permanent homes.
