Mom 'bawls eyes out' as volunteers rebuild flooded home
CENTRALIA, Wash. - It's been almost three years since floodwaters swallowed up much of Lewis County. Interstate 5 was completely covered - and dozens of homes were condemned and torn down.
But now - after all those years and thanks to a bunch of volunteers - there's one family who's getting a second chance with a complete home makeover.
It took thousands of nails, a few tons of lumber and a slew of volunteers - but the small house that Raelene McElvain and her kids call home looks much better now.
Three years ago it was inundated with water - but this weekend an army of volunteers worked day and night to rebuild the home - from the foundation to the walls and roof.
The entire effort was to help lift up just one family and get them back on their feet.
"If one person is motivated - then they're all motivated," says Allyn Roe of Lewis County. "In the last week is when it all came together. We got going Saturday morning and this is what we have behind us here."
Every piece of material used in the rebuilding was donated.
Allyn Roe and his wife run a nonprofit group called Renew Lewis County. Three years ago - right after flooding forced hundreds of people out of their homes around Centralia and Chehalis, they vowed to rebuild - house by house.
Raelene McElvain and her daughters lost everything in the flood.
But even after mold invaded the carpet and the walls - and inspectors condemned their home - Raelene still made every single mortgage payment - hoping it would lead to a miracle.
"For one thing my parents helped me get into the house, and also what would it show my daughters about giving up," she says.
Raelene hasn't seen her new home yet - the whole family is holding out for the big reveal. And when she does see it, she doesn't know yet how she'll say "thank you."
"I don't know - maybe if I just bawl my eyes out everyone will know - I don't know," she says.
She will see it next Sunday.
"This is our community - we take care of our own," Allyn Roe says.
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But now - after all those years and thanks to a bunch of volunteers - there's one family who's getting a second chance with a complete home makeover.
It took thousands of nails, a few tons of lumber and a slew of volunteers - but the small house that Raelene McElvain and her kids call home looks much better now.
Three years ago it was inundated with water - but this weekend an army of volunteers worked day and night to rebuild the home - from the foundation to the walls and roof.
The entire effort was to help lift up just one family and get them back on their feet.
"If one person is motivated - then they're all motivated," says Allyn Roe of Lewis County. "In the last week is when it all came together. We got going Saturday morning and this is what we have behind us here."
Every piece of material used in the rebuilding was donated.
Allyn Roe and his wife run a nonprofit group called Renew Lewis County. Three years ago - right after flooding forced hundreds of people out of their homes around Centralia and Chehalis, they vowed to rebuild - house by house.
Raelene McElvain and her daughters lost everything in the flood.
But even after mold invaded the carpet and the walls - and inspectors condemned their home - Raelene still made every single mortgage payment - hoping it would lead to a miracle.
"For one thing my parents helped me get into the house, and also what would it show my daughters about giving up," she says.
Raelene hasn't seen her new home yet - the whole family is holding out for the big reveal. And when she does see it, she doesn't know yet how she'll say "thank you."
"I don't know - maybe if I just bawl my eyes out everyone will know - I don't know," she says.
She will see it next Sunday.
"This is our community - we take care of our own," Allyn Roe says.
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• See how you can help »
