VICTIMS STRUGGLE DAILY

William Heatley was trying to fight off fatigue, but his leaden eyes showed he was losing the battle.

"I'll be asleep in five minutes as soon as I lay down," Heatley said as he took a sip of soda in the lobby of the Cape Girardeau Central High Gymnasium Thursday afternoon. "I've been up for the last 26 hours."

Heatley, 35, cast a weary glance toward the emergency housing he and his wife, Judie, and two sons, Zachary, 11, and Melvin, 10, would be using until they can figure out where they can afford to live.

He appreciated what the Red Cross was doing for his family, one of more than 30 the flood has pushed from their homes.

However, having to deal with another unfamiliar setting reminded him of the harsh life he experienced in California.

"It seems like no matter where you go, it's a constant battle," he said. "You get a job and start paying things off and you begin to think things will finally turn around. Then something like this happens and you begin to wonder."

Their children were still investigating the different surroundings as they waited for Red Cross workers to bring in blankets and pillows.

"Zachary and Melvin are shining right through this," William Heatley said. "I don't think they really understand how serious a situation this is."

Judie Heatley added that at least her family has a place to stay. "As much moving as we've done in the last 12 years, we're used to it," she said.

The Heatleys thought they were through moving for some time after they moved from California to the Red Star District. "From what we could tell, the last flood never got to the house we were renting," William Heatley said. "This year it not only got into the house but ruined our furniture. We've got nothing left but ourselves and finally, a job."

Heatley works the late shift, from 11:30 p.m. until 7:30 a.m., at Midwest Sterilization in Jackson. Judie Heatley is a waitress at the Cracker Barrel. "We always try to work opposite shifts so that one of us is with the kids all the time," she said. "We don't mind as long as we have jobs. It was very hard to find a job in California."

The American Red Cross has moved many flood victim families from area motels and into the old Cape Central Gymnasium. That will be the mass shelter for the duration of the flood.

"Some of the people are either too ill or elderly to move into here, but the others will have to stay here or find other housing," Red Cross executive director Mary Burton said. "We're trying to make it as comfortable as possible. Hopefully, we'll all get through this together without too much of a struggle."

Cots, blankets, pillows and pillow cases were a few items on a long checklist Burton and Red Cross staff members devised during the first of what could be several days at this shelter.

Other items for the children who will stay at the shelter include toys, two big-screen televisions, coloring books and reading material. "This is really the best place that we could have found for our purposes," Burton said. "The Red Cross has had a running contract with the public school system, but we've always used churches in the past."

Burton was thankful schools Superintendent Neyland Clark offered the gymnasium during such a difficult time. The school has a kitchen, sleeping quarters and showers.

Laurie Smith, 34, was collecting her thoughts in the parking lot before moving some of her things into the shelter. "It's tough on the adults, but I really feel for the kids," Smith said. "It's not only my kids I feel for; it's all of them." Smith is the mother of four children.

Smith, who is awaiting word from Manpower on a job opportunity as a cook, has offered to work in the shelter's kitchen as a cook. "I'll do what's needed, but if Manpower calls I'll have to adjust my schedule," she said.

Both Smith and the Heatleys said they will never go back to their flooded homes.

William Heatley said everything is gone at his old home.

Smith, whose home on Big Bend, was flooded last week, said affordable housing is one of her biggest concerns. "You just can't find any place around here," she said. "I don't think I could go back there. But where?"

Although they have endured a great deal in the last few weeks, the Heatleys and Smith vowed to win the fight.

"You go through enough and you begin to toughen yourself for the next fight," William Heatley said.

Smith said people have to have a lot of faith in the Lord "and take it day by day," adding: "Each night I cry a little inside, but the Lord makes me strong enough for the kids that it doesn't show. I'm thankful for that."