Six years ago, the Owego community awoke to face the beginning of a daunting recovery after one of the worst natural disasters in our region\u2019s history, the Flood of 2011. The flooding also devastated the Owego Apalachin (OA) Central School District, as it lost its administration building, its maintenance facility, and most notably, its elementary school. <\/p>\n
Today, faculty and staff have settled into a beautiful new building, having moved back home in January 2016. Owego Elementary School was completely rebuilt, and after several years of long commutes to an alternate site in the next county, the school community is just this fall finishing up with all of the flood recovery reconstruction. <\/p>\n
The situation in the Houston area has become somewhat of a d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu for many here. Robyn Wood, a school psychologist at Owego Elementary School (OES), has emerged as the point person for what began as a building-wide initiative, and in just a few hours has grown to a district-wide effort. Soon, it will certainly be a community endeavor. <\/p>\n
The human tie-in to the recent devastation in Texas, the result of Hurricane Harvey, is Cheryl (Edwards) King (OFA 1998). The circumstantial connection is clear. \u201cI went to high school with Cheryl. She was a student-athlete who graduated with my sister,\u201d said Wood. <\/p>\n
Wood added, \u201cCheryl also worked in Owego as a Head Start teacher for years. She was in the Owego area during the 2011 flooding, and she recently moved to Texas.\u201d <\/p>\n
The Hardin-Jefferson school district in Sour Lake, Texas was ravaged by the hurricane\u2019s floodwaters. That\u2019s where King now teaches. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the type of initiative that makes Owego Apalachin special,\u201d said Corey Green, OA superintendent, adding, \u201cI couldn\u2019t be more proud of our staff here. This isn\u2019t a one-time thing. There\u2019s always something happening when anyone is in need.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talk a lot about community, pride and tradition here,\u201d Green added, \u201cbut there\u2019s another aspect that pulls all of it together \u2013 commitment.\u201d <\/p>\n
Wood explained that when King moved to Texas, she thought her house was on higher ground, but ended up being evacuated by a boat with her three children. They lost their home. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur Owego Elementary staff felt strongly that we needed to do something,\u201d said Wood. \u201cWe wanted there to be a personal connection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wood said she has been in touch with representatives at the Hardin-Jefferson district. \u201cThey are overwhelmed by the support of this little town so far away,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n