| 06/12/2008 |
| ISU students lend hand in Parkersburg |
| By: Stan Brewer |
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Iowa State University construction engineering students lent a hand to those in need after a tornado ripped through Parkersburg, New Hartford and other northeast Iowa communities on May 25. Cory McDermott, who is studying construction engineering in a joint undergraduate and graduate program, said that this is an effort that anyone can get involved with. McDermott is one of the leaders of the Associated General Contractors Student Chapter and says the construction community is coming together to provide leadership for those who wish to help victims. "Basically, what I'm looking to do is mobilize people wanting to get involved," he said. "Parkersburg is a continuously evolving process, involving clean-up, clearing trees and junk, and getting people ready to rebuild." He said that one thing that people may not be aware of is that there are hundreds of acres of farm land strewn with debris from the tornado. "Farmers are not able to get there machinery into the fields until they are cleaned up," McDermott said. He is currently working on several sources of funding, including the office of the dean of student affairs and the government of the student body. "Transportation costs is the main thing, and I'm working on getting 15 passenger vans to carry people the 90 miles to Parkersburg rather than them having to take personal vehicles," McDermott said. To sign up, go to www.stuorg.iastate.edu/agc/ and fill out an online form. Stan Brewer can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 361, or sbrewer@amestrib.com.
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