Ellen NelsonNews Editor

More than 30 SDSU students of Alpha Gamma Rho, the Farmhouse Fraternity and construction management majors, along with men of Teen Challenge of the Dakota’s, came together in a collaborative and voluntary effort to prevent further damage caused by excessive rain near Brookings’ Highway 14 bypass on Thursday, Sept. 23.

Director of the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Brookings, Connie Swain contacted Teen Challenge and the Farmhouse Fraternity early in the afternoon on Thursday for immediate help from willing volunteers to fill and place sandbags as needed.

“I knew we were going to need a bunch of strong guys… and we’ve had a long-standing good relationship with all of these guys,” said Penny Hauffe, manager of Brookings’ Habitat for Humanity Restore.

Hauffee said the organizations have always been a good help and have been used for various Habitat for Humanity projects in the past.

“Furniture and construction materials were rushed off the building’s floor in preparation that water could exceed the height of the sand bags. The building’s truck dock was filled with more than five feet of water, ” Hauffe said.

Immediate help was requested in hopes of preventing any damage to the Restore building and especially its content.

“This is really concerning because these are the supplies and donations we use to build houses with,” Hauffe said. “Various antiques were of especially concerning to the staff to transport off of ground level.”

As the water level rose, more and more people kept arriving in order to help in anyway they could.

“I just can’t believe all the people who showed up, I just can’t believe it” Swain said. “This is just great, I couldn’t have asked for more or even better help.”

Steve Helling, Habitat for Humanity’s Restore Construction Manager was part of the effort to prevent water damage to the center. He transported two dump-truck loads of sand, which was donated by Bose Construction of Brookings.

As water level’s increased and no signs for the rain to stop, concern arose regarding neighboring homes.

“We saw that they needed help, and we didn’t need to think twice or hesitate about going over there,” said Brett Kleinschmit, a senior of Farmhouse Fraternity.

Habitat for Humanity Restore’s neighbor, Peggy and Jim Lippert, were also busy filling and laying sandbags around their home’s perimeter with only the help of their sons. As volunteers saw the neighbor’s need, they headed their way and joined the assembly line of laying sandbags.

“It’s never been this bad,” said Peggy Lippert, “We’ve been bailing out of a sub pump for a while.”

The Lippert’s have resided at their home for fourteen years and never before have needed to have three sump pumps going in their basement.

Peggy Lippert thanked the volunteers for their work after the sandbags were laid by treating them to home-made brownies. Connie Swain also displayed her gratitude to the volunteers by giving all the Teen Challenge men hugs, she said.

As volunteers finished placing the last of the sandbags, rain kept pouring.

“We just need all this rain to stop, then we’ll be good,” Hauffe said.

#1.1654482:1537476703.jpg:High water levels from heavy rainfall Sept. 23 reached the trailer court and surrounding apartments :High water levels from heavy rainfall Sept. 23 reached the trailer court and surrounding apartments by Sexauer Park. People living in high areas either evacuated or built walls of sandbags around their belongings. :Collegian Photo by Ellen Nelson#1.1654486:292532204.jpg:High water levels from heavy rainfall Sept. 23 reached the trailer court and surrounding apartments :High water levels from heavy rainfall Sept. 23 reached the trailer court and surrounding apartments by Sexauer Park. People living in high areas either evacuated or built walls of sandbags around their belongings. :Collegian Photo by Ellen Nelson