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Bruce Lindsay reporting Southern Utah flood victims have lost out on federal disaster assistance. But their neighbors are offering a hand.
In St. George, they call it The Dixie Spirit.
Last month's torrent destroyed or left unsafe dozens of homes along the Santa Clara River. Few homeowners had flood insurance, and federal disaster assistance is not for them.
But some community minded people are hoping this will be a help: Ten thousand copies of the book "Portraits of Loss, Stories of Hope."
The book is filled with photographs and stories from the flood.
Lon Henderson, proposed book: "After hearing all those stories, I felt like they needed to be told"
St. George businessman Lon Henderson spearheaded the book project on an impossible deadline: 30 days.
Lyman Hafen, Editor: "It's actually crazy. [laughs]"
All the same, veteran publisher Lyman Hafen took on the editing and production task, as one more unpaid volunteer, so the book would be ready for distribution this weekend during the St. George home show.
Lyman Hafen, Editor: "But it was made possible because a whole core or army of people came together to make it happen."
The book features 260 photographs, out of 8 thousand submitted, and scores of personal accounts--many of them couched as small miracles.
Lyman Hafen, Editor: "It was just amazing thing. I was totally spellbound as I went through all these stories."
Those stories, technically, are not for sale. The book is offered to anyone who donates 35 dollars to the flood relief effort.
St. George businesses have underwritten all production costs of the book and an accompanying DVD. All editors, designers and photographers donated their work so 100% of contributions will go to the victims of the flood.
Lon Henderson: "This is a small army that loves Southern Utah, and is trying to help them"
