Atlanta Flood 09'

The Issue//

In September of 2009, areas of Atlanta Georgia experienced rain like they had never seen before, or atleast in recorded history! Hundreds of homes were flooded within a matter of hours and thousands of people were suddenly without a place to sleep that night. The media covered it briefly, but unless you or a family member were effected by the tragedy it was quickly forgotten about.

Our Response//
An Atlanta based disaster relief organization, created by a Shaun King, contacted us to see if we were able to provide assistance, we of course agreed! Educating young adults about the situation and using social media to raise support, within 72 hours there were 27 of us going to aid in the clean up efforts. We spent just over four weeks in what would be considered ground zero, helping families clean their homes, search through their belongings that could be saved and making some of the best friends we have today! We had literally thousands of volunteers travel from 13 different states to help make a difference. Through Shaun empowering iC and the support of all of you, it changed the way we look at disaster relief!!

Posted on Mon, November 23, 2009 by iC Staff filed under

1 comment (Add your own)

1. Denise Russo wrote:: Chance, you know how grateful I am to you and your team. Perspective: I was one of the MANY homeowners that you helped. Sept 21 started like any other day. The sun was shining, my kids got to school safely and on time (I think!), and a few hours later, our lives changed drastically. Right before noon, my husband called to ask if it was flooding in Austell - as I looked out the window at a clear sky - it wasn't until I opened the front door that I saw a man standing in waist-high water at the end of my street (that was before the first drop of rain)...sewers were beginning to back up. By the time I packed my minivan w all the things I could think of (Wii, cameras, personal belongings, my Bible, and more), the rain began. I could not get out of the only street existing my subdivision because cars were already submerged. I escaped on foot w one backpack, a camera, and my laptop. By the time my husband evacuated my kids from Clarkdale elementary school, the trailers had water several feet deep. When he got to me - my car was more than 1/2 way submerged and the POD in our driveway was about to literally become an aquarium for all of our belongings that were being moved a day later - or so we thought (our house WAS for sale before the flood). Over 20 feet of water ravaged our subdivisions that day...when we arrived on 9/22, my birthday, we took a personal gondolier ride in a canoe to my front steps not knowing what to expect. 85% of everything...just gone or destroyed. There are a lot of things I remember and some I don't about that experience. One thing that sticks in my memory was a day that the city officials were dumping other neighbors trash into my dumpsters (that we had to pay for with no reimbursement)...and that is the day that I had a 'chance meeting'. Your teams helped me clear debris, bring sanity to an extremely chaotic experience, and did all of this with patience, kindness, laughter, generosity, and love. We welcomed you to what was left of our home, not knowing that another 'chance meeting' would take place through a mutual friend, Katie, who posted a photo of my neighbors flooded house. You saw that, commented, and I not only reconnected with you through someone you don't even know, but was able to immediately put my hands on a post it w your phone number that I saved from the day I met you. Now here we are...what ARE the 'chances' of this happening? I am simply a vessel. Someone using my talents to live in the service of my purpose, as are you. I am happy to know you, honored to have had you in my home, and encouraged about the mutual good works we are able to do for humanity. Count on me...and ask when you need something...
Wed, February 17, 2010 @ 11:34 AM

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