The American Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter in the DeKalb Park District’s Sports and Recreation Center, 1765 S. 4th St., to help those displaced by the flood.

Minutes before displaced citizens were to arrive Friday, Red Cross workers were busy making sure accommodations were set up and ready for the busloads of people who were being sent from the Campus Recreation Center.

“Right now we’re setting up the shelter with cots and feeding stations,” said Valerie Shiv, Disaster Services Human Resources for the American Red Cross.

When the evacuees arrived, they were checked in and those who needed it had case work done.

“The Red Cross follows national guidelines to see how much financial assistance they need,” Shiv said. “We provide temporary emergency assistance.”

While housing was provided, the DeKalb community also donated food. Breakfast was available through NIU Housing and Dining and McDonald’s and a dinner, which was originally meant for the sponsors of Friday’s Cornfest, but was donated to the evacuees.

“I think we’ll be here until Monday or Tuesday,” Shiv said. “Hopefully it won’t last that long.”

Not only were citizens of DeKalb County affected, but also workers of the Cornfest carnival.

Windy City Amusement workers were trapped inside their bunk house situated behind Evergreen Village Mobile Home in Sycamore.

“A carnival bus came and brought us to the Rec center at NIU at about 7:30 [a.m.],” said Frank Riggo, Windy City Amusement employee. “We were trapped in a bunk house, they had to get boats to get us out.”

After being transported from their bunk house to NIU campus, the amusement workers were sent to the Park District’s recreation center to join the rest of the flood evacuees.

While Riggo was lucky enough to place his personal belongings out of the waterline, other workers were not so fortunate.

“Everybody lost everything,” said Mitch Jacobson, Windy City Amusement employee.

While their tour must continue, the employees will have to wait to get their property out of the waters.

“We’re here until Sunday,” said Riggo. “Then we go to Mokena and we can’t go back for two to three.”

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