Torrential rains swept through the Ozarks this past spring. Flash flooding and saturated grounds forced many area residents from their homes. Shawn Wasmundt and Tiffany Rainwater woke up in the middle of the night and discovered two feet of floodwater in their basement apartment. Their landlord was not in town, and because they had lived in Springfield less than a month and had no family nearby, Tiffany and Shawn spent the next two nights sleeping in their car. Then, a co-worker mentioned to Shawn that the American Red Cross was helping people affected by the flooding.

Shawn and Tiffany met with a Red Cross caseworker Nancy Eastlake who immediately made arrangements for lodging at a local hotel and provisions for restaurant meals. Tiffany was thrilled at the prospect of a hot shower and a bed to sleep in. The next day Shawn and Tiffany began looking for a new apartment. Red Cross disaster relief paid their first month's rent. As they moved in, Tiffany and Shawn received additional assistance to establish a new household.

�Without the Red Cross, we might still be sleeping in our car,� said Shawn. �We didn�t know the Red Cross would do all of this, but we�re glad they did, and we won�t forget.�