CEDAR FALLS - Members of the Fraternal Order of Eagles began gutting flood damage from their North Cedar nest Saturday morning.

The charitable group doesn't know if it can afford to renovate the lodge at 2125 Lone Tree Road or if it has to sell the building it has called home since the early 1980s.

"It's still up in the air," said Gordon Walters, a trustee for F.O.E. Lodge 4074.

The chapter didn't have flood insurance and never amassed a fortune. The group kept a small savings for minor repairs and projects and gave most of its proceeds to charitable causes, said Kevin Kressley, a state F.O.E. officer who lives in Waterloo.

"They're hurting," Kressley said. "They really need help."

The North Cedar Lodge was the only F.O.E. chapter in Iowa to suffer damage from this year's flooding and tornados, Kressley said.

Walters said the lodge is pursuing grants and has applied for a Small Business Administration loan.

On Saturday, volunteers from other Eagles chapters came to North Cedar to tear out wall paneling and gypsum board, remove the false ceiling and toss damaged cabinets and furniture.

"We're going to have redo the complete building," Walters said.

The water, which came up fast, filled the building to about 48 inches, said Walters, motioning to the chest-level grunge on the wall.

Some 40 pounds of cooking oil seeped out of the fryer and spread throughout the lodge.

The cooler and stove have to go. Also gone are the furnace and three air conditioners. The bathrooms will have to be renovated.

Even the silverware and cooking utensils can't be salvaged.

"We just lost everything. The only good thing was two years ago we bought white plastic tables, and those are OK," Walter said.

With the lodge out of commission for at least a few more months, the group has lost its event rental income.

The building had been booked for two parties in July and about eight parties for August and September.

Still, Walters is optimistic the lodge can recover.

"Hopefully we can have this completed in three or four months, something like that," he said.

Plans include a "greener" building, he said, with new florescent fixtures to cut electrical use and an 8- or 9-foot drop ceiling for lower heating and cooling bills.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles raises money for national and local charities.

"Our motto is people helping people, and right now we need some people to help us," Walters said.

Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com.