September 21, 2007 - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

www.smumn.edu/cardinal Feature September 21, 2007 7
SMU rocks for relief
Habitat and Catholic Charities to benefit
BY EMILIE FISCH
Cardinal Staff
Rockin’ for Relief, a benefit concert for victims of the flood in Southeastern Minnesota, was held on
Sept. 7. All Winona community members were invited to attend this benefit.
The event was co-sponsored by Volunteer Services and Campus Ministry. Admission was $5 for students
and $10 for adults, which covered the cost of food as well as live entertainment and games. Among the
bands that played were SMU alumnus Adam Stasica; SMU campus band Bookreader; The Monday Saga,
featuring SMU alumnus Brandon Mathieus; and SMU alumnus Mike Munson.
Another large part of the fundraiser was a live auction which raised $1,087. Combined with the money
from admission and donations, Rockin’ for Relief raised a total of $5,398.78 total. Proceeds went to Habitat
for Humanity and Catholic Charities.
There are other ways students can help with flood relief efforts. Several volunteer groups from SMU have
helped on weekends, and more opportunities will be offered in the future. Students interested in volunteering
can contact Katie LaPlant in Volunteer Services.
photo by Kristina Perkins
Mike Munson (’04 ) entertains the
Winona community to raise money for
flood victims in Southeastern Minnesota.
Flooded with loss: one victim’s story
BY THERESA BREAULT
Cardinal Staff
For those affected by the floods in Southeastern
Minnesota, the possibility of a life-changing disaster
was far from their minds.
Such was the case of Saint Mary’s University
freshman Kasey Warnke, who lived in Stockton,
Minn.
Rains started to pour Aug.18, 2007, and Warnke’s
entire home, from her basement to the top floor of
her house, was soon flooded.
When the time came for Warnke to move in to
SMU, the only possessions she had here were a pair
of shoes, a pair of flip flops, and a half-full garbage
bag with the only clothes she could salvage.
Everything else was lost with the rest of her home.
Weeks later, Warnke still has not
been able to get over the initial
shock of such a disaster. “It hasn’t
really sunk in yet that I have no
house to go home to. I have no baby
pictures to show my own kids anymore.
I have nothing,” said Warnke.
Through the tragedy, however, organizations that
have responded to victims’ cries. FEMA (Federal
Emergency Management Agency) has supplied the
Warnke family with $26,000 in flood relief. Although
“I have no baby
pictures to show
my own kids
anymore.”
it doesn’t even come close to compensating for the
loss of their home or the two cars that were destroyed
along with it, it will be used to help get them back on
their feet.
SMU has also been doing a great deal to
help out with victims such as Warnke.
Rockin’ for Relief raised nearly $5,400 for
flood victims. Two-hundred athletes, along
with an additional 112 other students from
SMU, have volunteered their time to aid in the cleanup
of towns affected.
Although this will never make up for all of the
losses suffered, we can only hope that, in the end, it
will help brighten these very dark times.
Statistics on flood damage:
Clients served by Red Cross:
1,497
No. of people sheltered: 510
No. of meals served: 56,086
No. of snacks served: 124,882
Homes affected: 4,200
Apartments affected: 40
Businesses affected: 70
Homes completely lost: 256
Homes with major damage: 338
Homes inaccessible for some
time: 475
Rainfall:
Winona, Minn.: 5.10”
Witoka, Minn.: 17.00”
La Crosse, Wis.: 12.20”
La Crescent, Minn.: 11.58”
Rochester, Minn.: 11.10”
Compiled by Danielle Larson. Sources: WKBT La Crosse, National Weather Service, Winona Daily News