By COLlive reporter
On Monday, August 11th 2014, the metropolitan Detroit area broke a 90 year record with over 6 inches of rain water accumulating in a few short hours. The drainage system was entirely inadequate to handle the volume, and within a short amount of time, highways flooded and sewer systems became backed up.
The resultant overflow caused thousands of basements – including those of over 400 frum families, among them Lubavitchers in Oak Park – to become flooded with sewer water, some as high as seven feet.
The collective financial loss is staggering. Detroit homes are small, and most families count on their basements as critical living space.
Now, the high risk of sewer contamination has forced hundreds of families to completely demolish an important part of their home. Walls had to be cut a foot above the water line and tossed; sopping wet carpet needed to be removed. Families have been left with only the above ground levels of their homes intact, and many homes still have yet to be properly cleaned out.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of destroyed possessions – beds, furniture, toys, books, and more – are piled by the curbs, awaiting pickup by the sanitation department. Ruined appliances such as hot water heaters, washing machines, and dryers dot the sidewalks.
After completing the exhausting clean up process, many families will find that they cannot afford to rebuild their basements and replace lost items. Numerous families did not have any insurance coverage for sewage back up; and those that did cannot expect to recoup anything close to the amount that was lost.
Fortunately, there is a vehicle of aid already in place.
In a classic example of ‘Refuah Kodem L’Makkah’, the Detroit Chessed Project was spearheaded in the beginning of 2014, to provide the community with financial assistance programs such as Tomchei Shabbos and a clothing/housewares Gemach.
In the aftermath of the flood, the Detroit Chessed Project stepped right into the breach, working feverishly to bring aid to the community in any way possible.
The first – and most important – element of the rescue project has been to call in all available resources, both local and national.
Agudath Israel of America and Achiezer based out of the Far Rockaway/Five Towns area are working hand in hand with the Detroit Chessed Project; the Jewish Federation of Detroit has been a source of aid as well. Local companies and agencies are also being solicited, in an effort to alleviate the high cost of replacing the lost appliances, furniture, and clothing.
Serta, the renowned mattress company, generously donated a large amount of mattresses and box springs; the Chasdei Lev Organization has assisted with bulk discounts as well, and other similar initiatives are being pursued at this time.
The Detroit Chessed Project is now focusing on securing items like hot water tanks, appliances, furniture, clothing, Sefarim, and toys. Bowed but not broken, the community is pulling together in every possible way, with the goal of helping hundreds of families rebuild.
For more info and to find out how you can help, call 248-221-1894 or visit www.detroitchessed.org
It’s so hard to start over I know because I had a flood in my basement and needed to redo the basement it very expensive too I feel really bad for them
I heard rabbi Levi Shemtov from Detroit has also been extremely helpful with the Detroit Chesed Project helping them raise money etc. Rabbi Levi thanks again for your commitment to fellow chassidim.
Fellow lubavitcher Mendel Steinmetz of Detroit donated his time to build the website.
I love the design of the website, who designed it? thank you
Reb Yochanan Polter is an amaizing community activist in the detroit community. THE many chasadim he does on a daily basis is mind blowing. A chosid who runs his life asking every day asking is this something the rebbe wants me to do. A person who’s ahvas yisroel is highest level. May you be zoche to continue to see chassidiah nachas from your family and continue to give your mother continued simcha every single day. May you continue to go mi chayil lechayil. Yoch detroit is rooting for you. From a lucky friend
Yasher koach to Rabbi Yochanon Polter.
Yochanon is a quiet generous community leader who together with a group of other young leaders in the community are really bringing a level of organization leadership that this community has not had in a long time. I mention Yochanon because he is a Lubavitcher and very active in the entire community
BH. One day you will look back at it and smile, a hidden blessing takes time to be revealed.
The poor community! They need all our help. We need to give generously.
The best yishevah
we were out of time when the flood occurred and are still dealing with it. Many people are still dealing with it because it took time to find restoration specialists that were available. We are now treating mold.
Detroit is a wonderful community that is known for chessed; happy to see our local NYC orgs pitching in and good to see the Serta mattress truck.
omg i feel bad for Detroit!!!!!!!!!