Waterville – American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region

Waterville, MN Community Unites for Successful Blood Drive After Flooding

Waterville, Minnesota, a community impacted by recent flooding and still recovering, came together to donate blood on Monday. “We have a lot of helpful people in our small community,” said Barb, a former Red Cross volunteer and blood donor who helped organize blood drives for nearly 24 years.

Barb, former Red Cross volunteer, Waterville, MN, Aug. 12, 2024.

The blood drive filled up quickly and they had to add appointments to accommodate those who wanted to roll up a sleeve. In fact, the community surpassed the blood drive goal – reaching 110% of expected donations.

The drive was sponsored by the high school student Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) group in the Watertown, Elysian and Morristown school district. The group tries to host five blood drives a year, and this was the first drive in Waterville since the flooding in June. The next drive is already scheduled for November.

“We try and make it fun!” exclaimed Tricia, the group’s advisor. Sometimes they have special T-shirts made, special treats for donors, or themes to make it more interesting. “We try to get 16 year-olds to become first-time donors.”

Red Cross volunteers Jocelyn, Tricia and Megan, Waterville, MN, Aug. 12, 2024.

Donors included Megan, a high school senior and Red Cross volunteer, who is already a Certified Nursing Assistant and plans to pursue a career in healthcare. “I started donating because it gave me another way to help people that really need it,” she says. “When someone is nervous about donating I just remind them of how they could be saving someone’s life.” Megan and Jocelyn, a student lead for the blood drive, helped check-in donors.

We’re amazed that people affected by their own disaster have stayed committed to helping others through blood donation this summer as we are facing an emergency shortage. Thank you, Waterville and surrounding areas for giving back in such a meaningful way!

Megan, blood door and Red Cross volunteer, Waterville, MN, Aug. 12, 2024

You can help, too. Click here to make an appointment to give and help patients counting on lifesaving blood products being available.

Despite life’s storms, Nona continues to bloom at 88

On another rainy day in Waterville, Minnesota, Nona Ose stood in her family room and pointed to her flooded garden, planted more than 20 years ago in memory of her husband and son. “It makes me happy and other people too.”

Nona Ose points to flood waters still lingering in her backyard garden, Waterville, Minnesota, June 27, 2024. Photo: Lynette Nyman/American Red Cross

Proud of her gardens – Nona was once a florist, among other things – her heart ached to see her work threatened because of devastating flooding. “The water kept creeping up until there was water surrounding my house,” Nona explained. “There were even carp swimming around in my backyard and garden. I’m happy everything has gone down little by little.”

Nona, now 88 years old, grew up on a farm near Waterville and has lived in the same home for more than 60 years. She has navigated through adversity with grace. But this, she said, is scary.

Red Cross responder Sue Thesenga listens to Nona reflect on the flooding in Waterville, Minnesota. Photo: Lynette Nyman/American Red Cross

“It’s never flooded this bad.” When she compared the flooding that happened in 1965 to this flooding, she said, “it was nothing like this.” And, in 2018, she remembers a tornado that uprooted trees, several falling on her house.

Nona is sad about some of her belongings, like a Christmas tree now floating in her water-filled garage. But she’s happy her Christmas village was spared as this year she never put it in storage.

The street near Nona’s home in Waterville remains covered with flood water, June 27, 2024. Photo credit: Lynette Nyman/American Red Cross

Older adults like Nona often are the most vulnerable when disasters strike. Mobility, isolation, and other physical and mental can present different challenges for seniors when people need to move fast and reach safety during a disaster and even after when the long road of recovery begins.

In Nona’s case, her next door neighbors rose to the occasion, proving the power of community support. “They’ve been wonderful! They’ve helped me with things like getting groceries.” They helped with sandbagging and even remembered to pick up a Red Cross cleanup kit for her.

On June 27, outside Waterville’s city hall, Red Cross volunteers distributed relief supplies for people from Waterville, a town of around 1,700. People drove to the site and stopped to pick up rakes, shovels, gloves, garbage bags, and other flood relief supplies, including the kits.

Nona Ose shares a hug with Red Cross responder Sue Thesenga, Waterville, Minnesota, June 27, 2024. Photo: Lynette Nyman/American Red Cross

Nona displays strength and resiliency that is truly inspiring. While describing the rising waters that was surrounding her home, she musters a smile. “I guess I’m tough.” She’ll use the cleanup kit in the basement where she winters flowers from her beloved garden.

“I feel wonderful that the Red Cross helps,” said Nona.

Resource: Preparedness for older adults
Donate: Support American Red Cross Disaster Relief

Behind the lens for disaster relief

A Red Cross volunteer since 2000, Rachel Olmanson, from Cleveland, MN, has deployed to two national responses – Hurricanes Matthew and Katrina – where her involvement was working mostly to distribute meals and relief supplies to people living in neighborhoods.

Recently, Rachel got a new perspective on disaster relief compared to her past experiences. After multiple tornadoes hit southern Minnesota communities on September 20, Rachel took on the role of photographer and traveled with damage assessment and client casework teams in the towns of Waterville, Faribault and Morristown.

Rachel documented damage assessment teams reviewing general damage and caseworkers meeting with residents to provide relief and recovery support. While visiting one Waterville residence, Rachel took pictures showing a hole in the wall and ceiling of an upstairs bathroom that was caused by a tree limb. Homeowner Bernice was home when it happened. “We were sitting right here and Farrell said it sounds like it busted a window.”

Rachel’s pictures depict volunteers action planning, assessing overall damage, community members coming together to clear fallen trees and other debris, and residents assessing home damage while trying to figure out next steps. “I really could see a sense of community with neighbors outside helping each other to remove brush and trees off and around homes,” she says.