Volunteers Help 200+ Flood Victims Rebuild in Cadillac

When floodwaters finally receded in Cadillac, Michigan, residents faced a new nightmare: mold-covered walls and basements filled with sewage. But they're not cleaning up alone.

Christian Aid Ministries, a national Amish and Mennonite disaster relief organization, arrived last Thursday and has already assisted dozens of families. More than 200 homes remain on their waiting list, with new volunteers arriving daily from surrounding communities like Martin, McBain, Reed City, and Evart.

Randy Fletcher, a chaplain with the organization, is personally coordinating cleanup efforts. "Today I signed up three people and I think my coordinator signed up another six homes," he said Monday night at a city council meeting updating residents on recovery progress.

The damage runs deep. Greg Bock with The Salvation Army, who helped bring in Christian Aid Ministries, described entering one home to find mold covering every wall. That same basement held 6.5 feet of sewage.

After volunteers cleared the contaminated materials, the homeowner's relief was visible. "Hope's rising just a little bit more for me," she told Bock. "The fact that I finally have this stuff off my walls and out of my house."

The Ripple Effect

The volunteer efforts come as Cadillac continues its long recovery. Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell have dropped 22 inches from their peak levels, though they still sit 12 inches above normal summer heights. Most roads have reopened, including North Boulevard, and boat launches are back in operation.

City Manager Marcus Peccia announced that $2.1 million in grants were approved for critical culvert repairs near Wexford Jewelers. Work should begin this fall, though permitting could push the timeline to next spring.

Some challenges remain. The intersection of North Boulevard and Alexander Street, along with portions of Baker Street, stay closed while engineers monitor for cracks that could signal washed-out materials beneath the pavement.

But in homes throughout Cadillac, volunteers are restoring more than walls—they're bringing back hope, one cleanup at a time.