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Riverdale City Flood Web Site
August 7, 1999
Four weeks after an irrigation canal burst in Riverdale and washed mountains of mud into a neighborhood, city leaders still look for help as residents get on with their lives.
Riverdale officials are looking at legal options, while the victims of the mud are amazed at the recovery.
News Specialist Jed Boal has the story.
Riverdale's Mayor says there are no plans to sue the Weber-Davis Canal Company. But, they're doing their research in case the time comes.
Meanwhile, homeowners still wait for the go-ahead on low-interest loans. But, there are other things that just can't wait.
When the irrigation canal broke July 11th, 350,000 cubic yards of mud swamped more than 70 homes.
More than a dozen homes on one street in Riverdale were in ruins.
Yards ruined. Basements ruined.
Furniture, clothes, computers and photo albums-- all ruined.
Thousands of volunteers dug in to help clean up.
Staci Cragun and Burk Potter salvaged Staci's wedding dress that day, but, their wedding plans were certainly ruined. Their lawn was buried in five feet of mud.
Staci Cragun/July 13th: "IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RIGHT HERE, OUR RECEPTION, BUT, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN SOMEONE ELSE'S YARD."
Burk Potter/July 13th: "WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE OFFER. WE HAD ONE NEIGHBOR OFFER THEIR YARD TO US."
What a difference a month makes, especially when an army of volunteers leads the charge.
Today--a picture-perfect wedding and reception.
Staci and Burk Potter tied the knot and greeted guests on that lawn that once was a sea of mud...an amazing transformation.
Staci and Burk Potter/Newlyweds: "I DON'T KNOW THAT I THOUGHT THAT MUCH OF THE RECEPTION AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH CHAOS, IT WAS JUST SUCH A MESS."
They had several offers from friends and neighbors who were willing to host their reception. But a landscaper came in and took care of the lawn.
They're astonished at how much progress the entire neighborhood has made.
Staci: "FIRST OF ALL YOU WERE WONDERING WHERE SHOULD WE PUT THIS DIRT? HOW DO WE GET OUT? AND HOW DO WE EVEN GET THE MUD OUT OF OUR YARD? AND ONCE THAT WAS DONE, IT WAS WHERE DO WE START?
They started with a lot of help...as did their neighbors.
They chipped away at the mountains of mud and actually came away with some odd memories that will last a lifetime.
The couple is thankful they they made it through this frantic month.
"NO WAY WE COULDA DONE IT WITHOUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO GAVE FREELY OF THEIR TIME."
City leaders and homeowners are waiting to hear whether Riverdale will get federal assistance to help with flood cleanup.
They hope President Clinton will sign a disaster declaration next week.
That would clear the way for low-interest loans.
