Breaking News: SFM trying to help a friend.

[Aceman]

To SFM guests, members, and friends,

I'm Chris Canada. I've stepped out from behind the curtain so to speak because I want you to know this is coming from me as a person, and not as a nickname on a website.

A good friend of ours, David Bates (Norman on SFM) has been dealt a crushing blow related to the flooding in Iowa. His home has been flooded, and he and his family (wife, and 2 sons) have been forced from their home. The water level reached the bottom of his windows on his first floor (about 8ft) from the ground. Much of his neighborhood is in ruin. At a house two doors down from his, the water level reached the roof, and they lost everything.

As of this post David is unsure of the amount of damage to his home, because police have not allowed them to return to inspect the damage because the area is deemed to dangerous to enter. So he's waiting, with thousands of others, for the water to resend, and the police to allow them to get to their home and see what they have left.

To make matter worse - David lives outside the 100 year and 500 year flood plane, so they were NOT required to have sewer backup and flood insurance. So his insurance company has simply said, "Sorry" too him and sent him on his way.

I can't goto Iowa and help David recover his home. The best I can do is attempt to help him by coordinating a fund raising effort to help. He's going to need the funds to repair his home, replace appliances, etc. So I felt that this thread could possibly help David in his time of need.

Dave's posted photos of his house and the surrounding area on Flickr which you can see for youself at this link: Flood 2008 - a set on Flickr

David DID NOT ask for me to do this post for him. I came to him and asked if I could do this FOR HIM. He's a great guy, who's always helped me with the server, coding the header system, and keeping the server running when I broke it. As far as I'm concerned he's a saint and I would like to do everything in my power to help him.

IF you would like to help david out with a donation of fund, please use paypal to send money to: paypal@voygr.com (Email address is used by paypal to send money) You can use the link above or go to: www.paypal.com directly.

Anything you can send will help him out during this very tragic time. His wife, and their kids are safe and dry, but they have a very long road ahead of them. I hope you take this opportunity to help out someone who's help us (SFM) so many times with asking for a penny.

PASS THIS LINK ON TO A FRIEND - Show them the photos and please make a donation if you can.

ALL donation links on SFM will be diverted towards this cause for the time being and I personally think you for any help you can give.

Sincerely
Chris Canada.

[Tovette]

I'll donate some cash but that paypal link sent me to my outlook :/ maybe i am doing it wrong.

[Aceman]

Goto Paypal: where it asks you for WHO you want to send money too. Use that email address. It will go directly to dave.

ADDITIONALLY: the menu link (top right side) is now setup to go directly do David as well.

[TheGreatRaja]

That sucks, while it isn't than bad here. I spent all day on sandbagging duty (paid by my boss even!) trying to stop this from happening to others. Take care

[Dallidas]

I would donate something if i had a credit card, cus i know how he feels. My family's basement flooded last year and the insurance comapny said it "wasnt caused by natural forces"(WTF??). All the luck to you David.

[Norman]

Hello Everyone..

What can I say.. I'm truely overwhelmed.. thanks for all the .. well wishes and donations.. all of this will go directly into the house.

As a quick update, they have tagged houses in our neighborhood and we might be able to get down to the perimeter tomorrow.

We'll see if I got Green.. I'm hoping for anything other than red is good for us.

They have said they might be restricting our perimeter tomorrow.

[Norman]

Got some pics, here is what the scene looked like yesterday at our checkpoint.. shortly after this picture was taken, another hum-vee showed up with 20 more guard

[Lord Ravensburg]

Sorry to hear about your home Dave. Good luck tomorrow

[Tovette]

Dropped in some cash your way Norman

For some reason seeing military personnel on American streets makes me think of Red Dawn

[Norman]

Yeah well.. you should have seen 'em.. they marched down the street in two lines.. not saying anything.. now that wa freaky..

Our house was not released as of this post, however my parents was.. so it's time to go see some damage.. My sisters house will not be released for some time.