PARKERSBURG -- More than two months ago, the town's south side defined destruction.

In minutes, an EF5 tornado decimated homes and businesses, uprooted trees and overturned automobiles. In the weeks that followed, Parkersburg homeowners, volunteers and contractors turned haphazard rubble into piles.

Most of the debris is gone, and neighborhoods more closely resemble a chaotic new subdivision.

As buildings go up, those affected by the storm continue to accrue expenses. Many have few belongings to furnish their new homes. For others, construction is months away. That means more meals out, more commuting, more unknowns.

"You start buying back all the little things. It's sticker shock," said Ty Timmer of Parkersburg.

The dust had barely settled after the May 25 tornado when emergency officials, relief workers and government representatives descended on Parkersburg. Volunteers spent hours helping homeowners sift through rubble. Assistance also came to New Hartford and Dunkerton, where the twister paid unwelcome visits.

About two weeks later, disaster struck again. Massive flooding overwhelmed dozens of Iowa communities.

After each calamity, foundations, organizations, churches and businesses quickly rallied to set up accounts to allow donors to contribute a universally useful gift: money.

Some groups have already distributed funds. Organizers with the Parkersburg Tornado Relief fund through the LSB Foundation plan to start doling out the dollars in the coming week. Other foundations are still fundraising.

Those involved with charitable giving are eager to help but admit that philanthropy can be one big golden headache. Especially when the needs are great and the resources, in comparison, are few.

"It sounds like it would be fun and easy to hand out money, but it's not," said Jeff Kolb, executive director of the Butler County Development Corp.

"You've got to try to and treat everyone fair and impartial," Kolb added. "There's a lot of things that come into play."

Do-gooders are finding that who deserves what and how much are tough questions. Tight-knit communities can make need assessment easier but also creates the potential for hurt feelings, donation distributors say.

Golden headaches

The magnitude of the back-to-back natural disasters compelled friends, neighbors, even strangers states away to help.

The hasty response of parishioners to come to the aid of neighbors and fellow congregants impressed the Rev. Bill Thalacker of St. John's Lutheran Church-Bennington in rural Waterloo. Less than a week after a tornado destroyed homes in northern Black Hawk County, a parishioner inquired about whether the church had set up a disaster relief fund. Some members of St. John's lost homes in the tornado.

"These people out here are just fantastic," Thalacker says. "They work hard. They care about each other. They care about other people."

CUNA Mutual Group, a financial services provider, created tornado and flood funds after employees expressed a desire to help, says Traci Magsamen, with the company's human resources office in Waverly.

CUNA and its employees raised $32,000 for fellow workers and their families affected by the tornado. Another $13,000 was raised for employees who suffered from the floods.

"Everyone wanted to do something, so it just made since for us to be that conduit to make it happen," Magsamen says.

In Parkersburg, insurance agent Kevin Truax helped start a local relief fund to make sure tornado victims got what he says they need most -- money -- and to make sure the financial aid goes directly to Parkersburg families. Truax and his family lost a house in the tornado.

The Parkersburg Tornado Relief fund sits at $450,000 and growing, Truax says. As tornado recovery in Parkersburg transitions from cleanup to construction, those impacted by the tornado will be making a number of financial decisions, Truax says.

"It's time to get that money out," he says.

The fund will target those hit hardest by the tornado, Truax said. Committee members distributing the money will look at loss of property. Those who lost a home will receive $1,100; residents with significant damaged houses can expect $550, Truax says.

An individual's financial situation, insurance coverage and property valuation will not be considered. Committee members have no interest in attempting to decide who deserves what more and why, beyond the set qualifications, Truax says.

Those distributing disaster donations through CUNA Mutual determined that dividing the money up evenly was the fairest way to go, Magsamen says.

While some donation distributors may stress a bit about finding the best method, Truax and Magsamen think recipients in general are grateful for every little bit of assistance, no matter the amount.

Lissa Miller, a compliance specialist for CUNA Mutual in Waverly, said her father, sister and brother all lost homes in the Parkersburg tornado. All three families received checks from CUNA.

"I think my family was very shocked at the generosity of where I worked," Miller says. "If anything, it will help to get you by with some meals. Some bills."

Recipients, donors say, are more likely to protest the gift itself, rather than the amount.

Some tornado and flood victims are reluctant to take the money. Even those with very little seem to find someone they think deserves the help more.

That is not the point, Truax says.

"Too many people try to decide who deserves and who doesn't," he says. "Who am I to determine that you are good enough or have enough?"

Truax plans to mail out checks to all who apply and meet the criteria. Those who don't want the assistance can direct the money elsewhere. He suggests ongoing tree and playground equipment fundraisers in Parkersburg.

Some apprehension stems from a desire to use donors' money wisely and equitably.

"I mean, that's a big question," Thalacker says. "I mean, you do want to be fair, and you do want to help."

According to the Bible, the Jerusalem church in the first century struggled with a similar issue, Thalacker says. Some complained that Greek widows and orphans weren't getting their fair share of aid, so church leaders delegated the job to men of Greek origins, the pastor says.

At St. John's, the church considered letting those affected by the tornado handle distribution decisions, but affected families declined. Apparently, these families had enough to worry about.

The congregation resolved to divide the money equally. Thalacker anticipates distribution will go smoothly.

The forgotten

When Kolb of the Butler County Development Corp. researched disaster assistance options for nonprofits and community centers, he came up with disappointing results.

"They are the ones that seem to slip through the cracks with the other sources of assistance," Kolb said.

That's why the Butler County Communty Foundation is focusing its disaster relief efforts on nonprofits and civic-minded entities affected by flooding. Additional funds may help businesses recover.

Other fundraisers and financial assistance programs in the area already targeted tornado victims or individuals and families, says Kolb, and the Butler County foundation looks to help fill in the gaps.

While the tornado hit two Butler County communities, widespread flooding overwhelmed additional communities including New Hartford, Clarksville, Dumont and Greene. Many lacked adequate, if any, flood insurance, Kolb says.

To date, the foundation's disaster relief fund consists of about $8,000 in seed money, Kolb says. Additional fundraising efforts are planned.

Unfortunately, contributions likely won't be enough to help everyone, Kolb says. The flood damage is simply too great.

When it comes to keeping small town communities alive, fundraising efforts can't stand alone, Kolb says. Suffering communities need traffic, people looking to spend their money locally. A tall order, perhaps, when many families have less disposable income.

But Kolb thinks recent disasters -- which put groceries and gas stations out of commission -- have helped residents understand the importance of local businesses.

"They need to buy as many things locally as they possibly can," Kolb says.

"It's just important for people to realize these businesses need them now more than ever," he adds.

The momentous occasion draws congratulations from neighbors, strangers and friends.

Chad Blanchard watches quietly from a lawn chair. To his right, his wife, Jill, snaps pictures with a camera. Their three kids -- Austin, 12, MycKenzie, 11, Walker, 7 -- watch the construction project intermittently.

"I've been documenting the whole process," Jill says. "I just want to see how it's done."

Half of the Blanchards' new modular home dangles from a crane. The more than two-hour process is still interesting to Jill and Chad. It symbolizes a new beginning.

And new expenses.

Chad's tools and a household of furniture and appliances were casualties to the Parkersburg tornado. Adding insult to injury, floodwaters forced the family to evacuate, if only for awhile, Chad's parents' home in New Hartford.

"Got rescued on jet skies," Chad recalls. "Definitely wasn't fun."

The Blanchards, however, are taking financial lessons from the storms. Like when it comes to insurance, more is better, Jill says.

"You never realize how much everything costs until you have to itemize it," she says.

The Blanchards, like other Parkesburg families, will likely move into their new home lacking what some might consider necessities. A washer, a dryer and central pieces of furniture.

"We've used every bit of what we had to get a house back," Jill says.

Timmer, of Parkersburg, would understand. She recalls the days just after a tornado wiped out her neighborhood. Residents started counting the losses.

The big ones.

Lives. Lodging. Vehicles.

And the smaller-but-still-necessary ones.

Contacts. Prescriptions. Shoes.

Gifts of food, shelter and clothing proved invaluable to many impacted by the storm. Donations of labor proved invaluable and random gifts of $10 and $20 added up.

Such acts of kindess, residents say, met physical needs but also something else. Something priceless.

"I think one of the best things is good volunteers," Timmer says.

"There's just something to be said about the Midwest," she adds.

Contact Karen Heinselman at (319) 291-1581 or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.