FAMILY FIGHTS A LOSING BATTLE WITH WATER

After fighting the rising Mississippi River for more than a day, James and Donna Kendrick decided it was a losing battle.

Thursday morning, with flood water visibly rising in their home on Highway 177 just north of Cape Girardeau, the couple decided to leave.

On Tuesday the Kendricks began sandbagging their home. With help from the Salvation Army and a youth group from a Poplar Bluff church, they kept up the effort Wednesday.

But when the crest prediction went up again Thursday, this time to 47 feet, they knew it was time to leave.

Capt. Elmer Trapp of the Salvation Army and the teenagers then turned their efforts to moving furniture and personal belongings out of the house.

"We owe a lot of thanks to the Salvation Army and that group of teenagers," Kendrick said.

He was frustrated by calls to government agencies; the answer to Kendrick's pleas for help was, "Move out."

Kendrick said dozens of people stopped to stare during their fight. Many offered the same advice. "They would say, `If it was me, I'd just pick up and run and leave all this stuff here.'

"Maybe people can pack up and leave their life; I can't, not without a fight. It's obvious now we've got to move," Kendrick said.

Even with three sump pumps working, the basement was more than half filled with water.

The water Wednesday night had not reached the front yard. When they awoke Thursday, the house was an island. Sand for sandbags was instead used to form a path from the front door to dry ground.

"We battled it and sandbagged it yesterday," said Kendrick. "But you can't fight a losing battle."

Once they resigned themselves to leaving, a whole new set of problems arose: where to live, where to store their belongings, where to leave their dog.

"The boat, I'll just let it float. It's the only thing I can do."

Showing off the sandbag levee built by the Poplar Bluff teens, which was doing a pretty good job of holding back flood water in the back yard, Kendrick surveyed the water.

"You know, I planned to live here the rest of my life," he said. "When it's not flooding, it's gorgeous here. So peaceful."

Ten teens from the Fellowship General Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff are in Cape Girardeau working on a summer service project with the Salvation Army.

A weekend trip was planned two months ago before the flood predictions. The youngsters have stayed a week to help.

The hard work of sandbagging and helping this family move has been a good experience for the youngsters, said Jack Woodfin, youth minister.

"It's been excellent. The whole idea was to get them to look outward. Sometimes we get wrapped up in ourselves. We have created a situation where they see a different kind of environment and a need, and they are working without getting paid just because it needs to be done.

"They also realize they have made a difference in some people's life," Woodfin said. "I'm hoping in the future when they see a need they will pitch in and help."

Trapp said although officials advised it was a losing battle, he offered to help the Kendricks anyway.

"They weren't ready to give up," he said.

Plus, the sandbag levee did give the family a little extra time to move their belongings out.

Trapp said his philosophy for helping people is to just do it.

"So many people think they have to make plans and form a committee. At the Salvation Army, if we need to feed people, we just feed them. If people need help in a flood, we help them."

The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to assist in evacuating people. Trapp said he also needs trucks to assist with moving and storage locations for personal belongings.

The Salvation Army is providing temporary lodging for flood victims.

To offer assistance or for information, call the Salvation Army at 335-7000.