We see you, Cherokee

In the face of rising floodwaters, the Cherokee community rallied together to protect their neighbors and homes. City Administrator Tom Letsche reported an incredible display of solidarity, with volunteers filling over 5,000 sandbags in just a few hours on Saturday. Local businesses stepped up as well, donating food and water, while others ensured those displaced by the flood had hot meals. 

Other stories are coming in. Emergency personnel who spent sleepless nights watching pumps and waiting for a call saying they were needed. Law enforcement and firefighters who were helping people evacuate, and, now, clean up.

People on social media offering their homes for everything from shelter to showers. Parking spaces for cars and storage space for household belongings. Offering to take in people’s pets so they could go to the shelter at the high school. Sandbagging businesses or helping to move whatever could be moved in case water rose even higher. Showing up at the library in droves to move local history and library materials out of potential flood zones.

The Chronicle has received the names of dozens of people. City employees and former city employees working around the clock to preserve Cherokee’s access to water. School board members, business owners, teachers, and members of county and local government who have been working around the clock to help wherever they can. Regular citizens who are offering a helping hand to everyone from friend to stranger. 

They don’t want their names in the paper. They don’t want the recognition. The Chronicle Times has been told that repeatedly. “I didn’t do it to get a thank you,” is a common response. “I didn’t do it for you to write about it” or “No thank you, just ask others to help where they can.” 

We see you. We all see you. We thank you.