Volunteer flood relief valued at about $1 million

CEDAR RAPIDS - “Old Farts Electric” celebrated a milestone Sunday.

Organizers of this self-named group of retired electricians who stepped up after the June 2008 flood and volunteered to help people get their power back estimate they generated about $1 million worth of free labor and material costs for flood victims.

Now they expect to finish their final homes within the next few months, after helping to rewire 200 flood victims' homes free of charge

“Our city got smacked, but it's been a pleasure to help people,” volunteer Jim Ryan said.

“By the time you finish a house, you know a lot about the people and they know a lot about you,” volunteer Wayne Engle said. “It's just been a wonderful process and a rewarding experience.”

Jacqueline Gasper was among those attending a special celebration on Sunday for flood victims to thank the volunteers for their hard work. “With the economy today and everything else, I don't know how a lot of people would do it. We couldn't have done it,” Gasper said.

Cindy Koehler, another flood victim, said, “With the flood, it's been a lot of red tape. And they've been able to get a lot of things done quickly to avert the red tape.”

What started as a kind gesture for a handful of homeowners has become a full-fledged organization complete with job titles, albeit tongue-in-cheek titles.

“I'm vice president in charge of ‘day old doughnuts,'” Ryan said.

-Mark Geary, KCRG-TV9 News