A group of veterans are hoping to save their local American Legion Post that was damaged during Ida last September.

The storm flooded close to 5 feet of water into the lower level of the American Legion Post 1574 in Thornwood.

A day later, the damage was surveyed by Drew McFadden, commander of American Legion Post 1574.

"Basically, we were heartbroken," he said.

McFadden said the lower level is where veterans once held meetings.

He and fellow vets attempted to clean up the mess, but it was too big of a job.

A group of volunteers came together and spent six weekends gutting the lower level.

Nine months after the flood, there is still gutted materials outside the building.

McFadden said they've raised about $20,000 to begin repairing the building.

"We are on our way but we think we need about 125-thousand dollars so there is a lot more to go," McFadden said.

The Town of Mount Pleasant has stepped in and is working with FEMA to try and come up with more money.

Meanwhile, some of the funds raised for repairs were used to build a bathroom on the second level so members of the legion post could resume monthly meetings.

McFadden said they are planning to install a door downstairs that would prevent flood waters from seeping.

Future plans to restore the building have been made with future floods in mind.

"We are going to have a boiler replace the boiler with a boiler that hangs up on the wall so it’s going to be above any flood that we might have," he said.

If you would like to make a donation to the Legion Post click here.