Churches and Volunteers Deliver Relief to Iaeger Flood Families

On December 10, Rock Springs Ministries of Bradshaw, working with volunteers from Woodward Baptist Church in South Carolina and other area congregations, handed out Thanksgiving turkeys, sacks of onions and potatoes, bottled water and emergency supplies to residents who lined Iaeger s narrow main street. The distribution was both a holiday gesture and a practical response to lingering needs from floodwaters that swept through the region in February 2025.

Volunteers and families described floodwaters that entered homes, shifted foundations and rose to house windows. Many households reported losing furniture, appliances and heating systems, and several homes remain unsafe for regular use. Local water systems suffered damage in some areas, leaving families relying on bottled water for basic needs weeks and months after the floods. FEMA grants and loans have helped some households, but organizers and residents said those federal payments often cover only a small fraction of the costs to repair structural damage and replace major systems.

Jessica Stapleton, director of Rock Springs Ministries, coordinated distribution efforts and an angel tree project that collected names of children affected by the floods from Iaeger Elementary, Sandy River Middle, River View High School and nearby Bradshaw. Donors used those names to shop for requested items. Volunteers from Carolina partner churches also made on the spot cash contributions to cover urgent replacements such as a child s bed. Organizers noted that many children s wish lists reported during outreach contained basic needs and simple toys that are often taken for granted in nondisaster years.

The continuing gap between repair needs and available household resources has market and policy implications for McDowell County. Demand for home repair services and replacement appliances is rising, yet many families lack the liquidity to participate in that market. That depresses local spending and slows recovery while increasing reliance on charitable networks. Damage to municipal water and housing stock also points to longer term infrastructure needs that may require targeted investment beyond emergency aid.

Despite losses, residents repeatedly cited family and community ties as reasons they remain in Iaeger, and volunteers emphasized that longstanding networks of churches and partners have built a capacity for ongoing relief. Residents seeking more information about relief activities can contact Rock Springs Ministries in Bradshaw or the local churches that coordinated the distributions.