FLOOD DAMAGE Network faces lack of resources

Volunteers and donations are needed.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- For many, the heavy rains and flooding of 2003 are a distant memory, but for those still helping to rebuild the lives damaged by the water, much work needs to be done.
Members of the Southern Mahoning Valley Relief Network have been working to restore homes and fix damage caused by the 2003 floods since August of last year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency helped start the group to address ongoing problems after the floods.
The organization subsists strictly on donations to help flood and storm victims of 2003. Victims of more recent storms and flooding are not eligible to receive help from the organization.
The Rev. Bob Quaintance of Good Hope Lutheran Church, Boardman, said the group has worked on more than 450 homes, but more than 200 people are still in need of assistance.
"FEMA says 95 percent of those affected are taken care of in the first two months, but there is always that other 5 percent left," he said. "That is why this was formed. Those people are our focus."
Network member Nancy Voitus of Catholic Charities said calls started pouring into the organization shortly after the rain water subsided and FEMA declared the area a disaster last summer. The long list of needs included everything from roof repair to drainage issues. The organization also has replaced many appliances and household necessities.
"We were finding a lot of people who were elderly, had medical problems or just didn't have the ability to do the clean up themselves and needed someone to come in and help them," she said.
Donations
According to the Rev. Mr. Quaintance, the organization has spent more than $10,000, not including some donated appliances and donated materials, lending a helping hand in the last year. There have also been countless hours of donated time from members of the community.
Mr. Quaintance said it is unlikely that the organization will be able to address every need, but they are still working to assist those remaining 200 or so individuals in various Mahoning County communities. Time and resources, however, are running out.
Diana Williams, network case manager, said donations and volunteers have been dwindling. She said the organization continues to work with the resources available to it, but some of those on the waiting list to receive help are being threatened with fines if the needed repairs are not made to their homes.
"I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet. We are making progress, but we are very short on help and very short on money," she said.
The organization is mostly in need of skilled labor, but looking for any available help assisting those families still on the waiting list. Williams said partners are being sought to "adopt a family" of the 200 remaining.
Williams said adopters would likely be churches or other organizations willing to take on a family, assist in the cleanup process and hopefully take on some of the financial responsibility of making repairs. Cost of the repair work will vary with the work being done, she said.
jgoodwin@vindy.com