SHAMOKIN - Although seven months have passed since the Flood of 2011, there is still a need for donations and volunteers to help area residents who are still struggling from the devastation of Tropical Storm Lee, the Long Term Flood Recovery Team said during a meeting Wednesday morning.
"People just don't realize the needs are still out there," said Lisa Milbrand, vice president of the team and project coordinator of Central Susquehanna Opportunities (CSO).
Attending the CSO-hosted meeting at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center were representatives from American Red Cross, St. John's United Methodist Church (UMC), Area Agency on Aging, Adult Services, United Way and Susquehanna Conference of UMC, United Methodist Committee of Relief (UMCOR) and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
Milbrand reported most of the relief is coming from outside the state to serve residents, including those in the Shamokin area, who need flood assistance because of damage to their home and properties.
All donations welcome
In the last two weeks, UMCOR brought in eight volunteers from Ohio. They removed mold from the walls of a house in Strong whose owner is wheelchair-bound and unable to inspect her basement.
The Ohio group also installed dry wall and painted the walls in the CSO house at 1605 W. Lynn St., Coal Township. The house was purchased to provide a temporary residence for victims of disaster and volunteers who come from out of state.
The Rev. Karyn G. Fisher, pastor of St. John's UMC, volunteered her church to take care of the CSO house with whatever needs and maintenance it needs.
CSO members welcome of monetary donations, but noted the group would also appreciate the donation of building materials, dry wall, paneling, lumber, paint and paint supplies and insulation, and the use of Dumpsters.
Most importantly, Milbrand said, there is a need for volunteers and expertise.
Interested volunteers can contact Kathy O'Grady, flood relief coordinator with CSO, at 644-6575, extension 180.
UMCOR will bring in another group - four people from Bucks County and five from North Carolina - from April 22 to April 28. They will stay at the CSO house and work on five houses in Shamokin, Locust Gap and Kulpmont during their stay.
'We can help'
Kathy O'Grady, flood relief coordinator with CSO, updated the group on 13 different cases in the area, which included many elderly residents.
Pat Rumberger, director of Northumberland County Area Agency on Aging, was surprised to hear about the number of older victims.
"They're not coming to us, and we can help. That's something we can do as an agency," she said.
People should contact CSO if they're not sure they're eligible for help. Milbrand said.
"Our elderly sometimes don't know if they have issues. We go and find out that they have big issues. They don't realize how bad it is, and the dangers of living in it (mold)," she said.
O'Grady noted the team's case load is only going to increase.
She suggested forming an "unmet needs" committee that would review each case, determine the best solution moving for each and present the findings to the team at large. Milbrand planned to e-mail the whole of the committee, including absentees, and ask for volunteers.
At the end of the meeting, Jerry Haines, volunteer coordinator of UMCOR, complimented the team.
"I work with a lot of relief teams from here to New York, and this is one of the best. You're here for the right reason, and I'm glad to be a part of it," he said.
"We had a baptism by flood," Milbrand said.
Milbrand announced the county commissioners will meet with CSO at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 23, to tour the homes they've been working on.
The next meeting will be held at 9 a.m. April 18 at CSO.