In June 2024, severe storms brought record-breaking rainfall across northwest Iowa, causing rivers like the Big Sioux, Little Sioux, and Rock River to overflow their banks. Communities were quickly inundated as floodwaters rose to historic levels, damaging homes, displacing families, and overwhelming local infrastructure.

In response, World Renew Disaster Response Services (DRS) partnered with local organizations to provide clean-up, repair, and long-term recovery support alongside affected communities.

One year later, recovery is still ongoing. The stories below reflect both the challenges that remain and the hope emerging as volunteers and partners walk alongside survivors in rebuilding their homes and lives.

The Right Place at the Right Time

Just weeks after the northwest Iowa floods in 2024, World Renew Disaster Response Services (DRS) volunteers traveled to Hawarden, Iowa, to provide clean-up services in the community. In Hawarden, the Big Sioux River crested at a record-breaking 39 feet, flooding many nearby homes—including Mike’s.

DRS volunteer working in IOWA repairing a flooded homeMike noticed DRS volunteers working nearby to help his neighbors. He first approached the volunteers to ask for advice on treating mold from the ongoing effects of the floodwaters on his home. As the conversation unfolded, Mike shared more about his life with the volunteers. Feeling the impact of recent loss in his family, employment changes, and now the flood, he was incredibly weary. Mike credited God for helping him through these times, but navigating these challenges was a struggle for him.

Volunteers saw that Mike needed help in flood recovery, but that he also needed help from God. As they spent time carrying water-logged items out from his basement, Mike’s spirits began to lift. During this time, DRS volunteers were able to pray with Mike for his recovery plans and for God’s plans for his future. Praise God that as Isaiah writes, “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31a).

Providing Hope Through Local Recovery Groups

In February 2025, eight months after the floods, DRS held an unmet needs assessment nearby in Spencer, Iowa. Volunteers surveyed clients and collected their recovery data to provide the Clay County Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) with information about the ongoing, unmet needs of their community. This process helps by providing holistic data on financial, material and repair needs; a priority list for case workers; the case for external funding; and more.

World Renew Disaster Response Services Needs Assessment volunteers sit at table with applicant impacted by Iowa floods.Maribel was one of the survivors surveyed at this unmet needs assessment, recounting her story and sharing her needs after the floods. When the Little Sioux River’s floodwaters started rising in the surrounding area, Maribel and her partner awoke to water entering their basement apartment through its windows and walls. To their shock, within 15 minutes, the water was chest deep. The family’s furniture and belongings were underwater, and their appliances were floating. As they tried to collect their belongings to salvage what they could, they quickly realized they needed to retreat to safety. The family lost everything but their car due to the floods.

Six months later, Maribel and her family still had not received much flood recovery assistance. While this was difficult for them to bear, DRS volunteers were able to pray with Maribel, encouraging her and asking God to provide strength for her family. Her family and 133 other households could trust that after being surveyed at this unmet needs assessment, they would be included in the Clay County LTRG’s case load for rebuilding and other recovery needs.

‘This Help Has Been Monumental’

Rich, Jenny, and their family faced similar loss in neighboring Rock Valley, Iowa. Their home, family business, and car were damaged by flooding from the Rock River due to record-breaking rainfall. With their third child on the way, losing nearly everything and being displaced into a FEMA trailer left Rich and Jenny in despair.

World Renew Disaster Response Services (DRS) volunteer uses miter saw to trim siding.

When the Sioux and Lyon County Long-Term Recovery Group was established, Rich and Jenny were among the many families to receive repair assistance. Multiple groups from the LTRG came to work alongside Rich and Jenny on their home repairs, including a one-week DRS volunteer group from Orchard Hill Church (OHC). The volunteers installed siding and trim, laid new flooring, and painted the home’s previously repaired walls.

Throughout the week, neighbors stopped by to comment on the home’s progress. Rich and Jenny were relieved to be near the end of this recovery journey. “The repairs done by Orchard Hill Church would have taken me weeks to complete by myself,” Rich remarked.

At the end of OHC’s time in Rock Valley, hope felt very near to Rich and Jenny’s family as they would be moving back inside their home in just a few short weeks. Their time together with the DRS volunteers concluded with a prayer of blessing from OHC, when tears were shed and many hugs were exchanged. “This help has been monumental,” the couple shared. “Thank you.”

By the Numbers

In the first year of World Renew DRS’ response to the northwest Iowa floods, your support has helped bring hope and progress to many survivors:

• 🤝 28 families served through clean-up and early recovery support
• 📋 257 survivors supported through unmet needs assessments
• 🛠️ 33 homes repaired by volunteer reconstruction teams
• 💰 $29,000 USD (approx. $40,000 CAD) in grants awarded to support volunteer housing
• 💜 $278,793 USD (approx. $385,863 CAD) donor dollars raised for ongoing recovery

World Renew DRS continues to partner with local recovery groups, supporting long-term rebuilding efforts as communities restore their homes and lives after the floods.

You Can Make a Difference.

Around the world, communities face similar challenges after disasters—making ongoing long-term recovery support more important than ever.

Your generous donation today—no matter where you are in the world—means we can help families find hope and rebuild their homes and communities. Thank you for helping to respond to the ongoing needs of people living in communities devastated by these storms. Help rebuild now.

When you volunteer with World Renew, you have the chance to deepen your faith, stretch your thinking, and live out your sense of justice in meaningful ways. Volunteer with DRS today and make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by disasters in North America. Volunteer with us.