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buyOUI process. She did warn the residenIs they needed 10 make a decision soon, because there was a limiIed amount of money available for the buyout program and Ihat t.fty-five Missouri communities were making applicaIions similar to Alexandria. 14 On February 14. 1994. Gover- nor Carnahan announced thaI he was recommending Alexandria and fifteen other siIes for buyout funding from FEMA. The governor"s approval of funding for Clark County came several weeks lateLls After approval. events moved quickly. On March 31, Ihe governor announced that Alexandria had re- ceived approval for buyout funding. On April 7. the Alexandria City Council in consulIation with SEMA established the buyout criteria for the town.s homeowners. The council set up categories and procedures for buying homes, appraising their values, and dealing with disputed appraisals. 16 A further meeting beIween ciIy officials and slate representatives linalized the details of the buyout. 17 A similar process look place outside Alexandria and by May 25. Clark County residents were able to submit applications for buyout funds.ls Finally. in February. 1995. Alexandria residenIs who had agreed 10 participate in the buyout began to receive checks for their property. By February I. 1995. nine Alexandria residents had sold Iheir homes to the city for amounts ranging from $8.000 to $25,000. By February 7, 1995. ten more residents had rurned their homes over to Ihe city and received checks, and by December 31. 1995, forty residents had accepted government checks for their homes. 19 Today. Alexandria is a vital and growing town. Despite Ihe fears that the buyout might cause a crippling popularion decline that could hurt the tax base. the Iown continues to grow. Perhaps one reason for this is the extensive help Alexandria received from outsiders. I n the midsI of Ihe devastaIion. Alexandria had found outside help. The town was adopted by the citizens of Mt. Airy. Maryland. and Croton. Ohio. Both of these towns sent workers to help with rebuilding. The citizens of Mt. Airy even collecIed $50.000 Ihrough private donations. dances. and various church sponsored activiIies. One Mt. Airy bartender offered 10 shave his head if his patrons would contribuIe S4.000 10 the cause of flood relief for Alexandria. They did and he had his head shaved.2o Another source of help to Ihe town came from the MennoniIes, who live on farms in the area. During Ihe flood. they had worked hard filling and moving sandbags to the lOpS of Ihe levees.21 After the flood. when Alexandria needed help rebuilding, the Mennonites came back 10 help repair the desIruction. This eXIensive outside help allowed Alexandria 10 rebuild. Largely because of all the help. many residents decided 10 stay. and 10 meet federal regulations by raising Ihe foundations of their new homes one foot above the established I ()() year flood mark.22 Along with the rebuilding came new to\.VO ordinances that were promoted by Mayor Robert Davis. Now there are strict rules about trash and refuse removal, the height of grass on private lawns. and rules governing the type of dwellings people can build. There are also numerous sites. scat- Iered Ihroughout the town that provide sites for picnicking and recreatioo.23 Many of these siIes now contain picnic Iables, basketball goals, and open sided shelters.24 The town looks good and Alexandria has a revitalized spirit of pride. Buyout area in Alexandria, Missouri, adjacent to the former Elementary School offers plenty of room to play or to develop future sports fields. Page 15