The cleanup of mud was backbreaking, but the families started anew with the old-time faith of our pioneers. You helped rebuild their hopes. . . Housewives faced mud, buckling floors, soggy plaster, and furniture that fell apart. Red Cross assisted the aged and handicapped in cleaning. This family lost all furniture, appliances, food, and clothing. You helped by replacing furnishings for their rented home, clothing, linens and food. and their homes... They returned home to find mud and debris waist deep in their living rooms, furniture that fell to pieces at touch, houses twisted off their foundations, roofs rammed into upstairs bedrooms. Silence and the odor of decay hung over the desolation. The federal government made funds available for cleaning streets to avoid health and safety hazards. The people began work on the long, hard job of salvage and cleanup. The score in the battle of the river against man showed 2,325 homes de¬stroyed, 7,402 with major damage, and more than 24,500 with minor or super¬ficial damage. And about 50 percent of the flood victims were home owners. Again you enter the scene through the Red Cross. After talking with the family, a Red Cross caseworker visits the home, determines the eligibility of the family to receive financial assistance from you. The caseworker verifies ownership of the property, the family's financial resources, and the salary and type of work of the head of the house. An experienced building adviser then surveys the damage and estimates the cost of repair and rebuilding. Next an advisory committee made up of local citizens hears the case presented by a Red Cross caseworker. All names are held in confidence. Throughout the flood areas these ad¬visory groups decided whether the re¬quests for assistance should be met. If the answer was yes, a contract was made with a local builder. Some families did their own repair work with materials furnished by the Red Cross. Because damage was so great, some houses will not be completed before next spring. Red Cross caseworkers talked over repair needs with flood victims whose homes were damaged. Some 6,600 homes were rebuilt or repaired at a cost of more than $8,700,000. The building adviser carefully estimated damage and the amount it would cost to repair or rebuild the house. Request for help was presented to the citizens advisory committee. Workmen prepare to wreck a damaged home. A new home is being constructed for this family from funds you gave to Red Cross for just such friendly help in time of disaster.