American Spirit

Audio Available:

August 24, 2007 - 3:00 ET

GLENN BECK PROGRAM
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GLENN: 888-727-BECK. 888-727-BECK. Let's go to Roger who's an Insider. Hello, Roger.

CALLER: Hi, Glenn.

GLENN: How are things?

CALLER: Wet, very wet.

GLENN: You're in Ohio. Tell me the situation.

A picture of the flooding in Findlay, Ohio

CALLER: I'm in Findlay, Ohio. I have a business downtown and I live, I don't know, five, six blocks from downtown area and right now I'm sitting -- I drove through my neighborhood and I just, I don't know what to say. I mean, I'm next to the river and right now, and I can see chairs and coolers and life vests. Everything you can imagine floating down the river here past me. These people here are amazing. There's nobody standing around waiting for a FEMA check. They're walking around like zombies in disbelief but they've got gloves on and they're, you know, hauling stuff out of their basements and sorting through what they can and it's just, it's just something else.

GLENN: Your business was -- I read an amazing story today on what happened up in Findlay and it's showing the downtown and how people are just trying to get the -- just get the water out of their stores. What store did you own?

CALLER: I own the bicycle shop in downtown Findlay and I'm five blocks from the river and in the history of history, it is -- there's never been, never been water there. So we were completely caught off guard. We've got -- I've got people there today that are, you know, with the pressure washers, you know, trying to clean this out and yesterday it was carpeted and, of course, we have to get all the carpet out and stuff. And I only had several inches. I just, there's so many people that have got it worse than me. I've got a friend that has a business on the other side of the river who had five feet in his restaurant.

GLENN: Holy cow.

CALLER: He's a good friend and I feel guilty about me working on my stuff when he's -- you know, I feel like I should be down there helping Greg but, you know --

GLENN: Well, I know I got several, I got several e-mails from Insiders yesterday to alert me of the situation that you were in, and I know that Insiders are headed your way today, it's my understanding, to help you out and maybe once you're finished with yours, you can go help the guy on the other side of the river.

CALLER: I just, I'm afraid I'm going to have a Glenn moment here and get emotional but the amount of support and encouragement that we've gotten you know from Insider community and people calling up and walking, what can -- you know, what can we do. My customers, I had nine customers show up yesterday with gloves on saying, where do you want us to start. I had people bringing trailers by and, you know, hauling bikes out and wet boxes out and, you know, I mean, this business is our livelihood. We were from flat broke and by the grace of God he gave us this business. I know we're supposed to be there and he's blessed us incredible and it's like, well, what's going on. I mean, you know, I just, I just, I'm completely, I'm overwhelmed by everything and just the amount of love and support that we've gotten and people calling from all over the country that know us and, you know, just calling up to say, hey, are you guys okay; can we do anything for you. You know, I just, I'm just speechless.

GLENN: That's fantastic, Roger, fantastic to hear. And I'm just amazed as you are every time. With the Insider community, there have been deaths in the Insiders, there's been trouble in the Insiders and they always band together and help out. And, you know, we were just talking to John Stossel a minute ago about, you know, who's the most giving, et cetera, et cetera, and taxes and FEMA is never going to change anybody's heart. I never feel proud, I've never seen a disaster where the FEMA trucks roll in and I think, yeah, we're America. Yet when I hear stories about, like you just told with your customers coming into the store with their gloves on and saying, how can we help, when I hear about Kansas where they have a tornado rip through and they stand around saying we're not waiting for FEMA, we're taking care of it ourself. When FEMA rolls in and, you know, all the trees have been removed and everything's been cut and they are already on the road to healing, it makes me proud to be an American.

CALLER: Me, too. Me, too.

GLENN: Well, let us know if there is anything that we need to do ourselves, if there's anything I can do. Is there any way people can be involved to help your town?

CALLER: You know, there's lots of messes. My sister-in-law was out of state and she's heading up here tonight and she said well, even if you don't need me, I'm sure your neighbor's got a mess that I can help clean out, you know. Just send prayers our way. I mean, that's the most, you know, the most powerful thing we can do and, you know, I'm not -- I'm going to be okay. I'm going to survive this. I've got a mess. I don't know how long my store's going to be closed and, you know, the economic impact is -- who knows. Of course, I don't -- insurance isn't going to help with the store or anything, insurance, big deal. I'm a survivor. I've been through -- I haven't been through anything like this but I've been through stuff before and I know we're going to get by. But, you know, the power that, you know, just pray for -- just pray for our community. We're a tough community. We're tight. We've got people walking door to door saying what can we do to help and that's what it's all about.

GLENN: Fantastic. Fantastic. Thank you so much. And we will keep you in our prayers and you stay in touch with the Insiders and stay in touch and let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

CALLER: I post some pictures every night of what's going on. You take care and thanks for having me on.

GLENN: Thank you. Bye-bye.

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