12 hours ago
American Red Cross still working to reach Marion County flood victims
FAIRMONT — The Allegheny Highlands chapter of the American Red Cross will provide support to residents who need help after the Father's Day Flood.
The nonprofit has established a service center at City of Fairmont's Public Safety Building on Quincy Street through Friday.
"Our service center is available to anyone who has had their home destroyed or majorly damaged to come in and report that to us so we can offer various services through the Red Cross," Director Jason Keeling said. "We are working to reach out to those we are aware of, but not always guaranteed that we know. If your residence has been affected, please come to this center to let us know so we can get resources to those affected."
The Red Cross assessed the individual needs of each impacted household at the service center and provided recovery assistance, including financial assistance, to residents who suffered losses during the flood, according to a press release. Over 50 Red Cross disaster workers have been assisting with recovery in Marion and Ohio counties.
The organization also helps residents with recovery planning. Damage assessment teams have been in communities to determine if homes received major damage or were destroyed.
Keeling said not all recovery assistance is financial. The Red Cross also provides something called disaster mental health, as well as non-denominational disaster spiritual care, which connects victims of disaster with someone they can talk to. The organization also makes referrals to other agencies that have services clients could use, like a Goodwill or Salvation Army.
Around 3 p.m., Keeling said seven people had shown up. He said upwards of 50, approaching 100 households, had been impacted by the flood. The service center will be open in the afternoons from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., through June 27. People who can't make it to the service center can call 1-800-REDCROSS and engage from there. That number is also 1-800-733-2767
Greg Lamm, a Clarksburg resident, was one of the volunteers helping Fairmont residents. He spent four days last week working at the flood shelter at Fairmont State University, and spent Tuesday helping with intake at the service center.
Lamm said he was shocked when news of the flooding broke.
"There's people that lived in some of those apartments that lost everything, Lamm said. "They cannot even go back to look through their things for anything they could salvage. They're basically starting from scratch. So yeah, they need a lot of assistance."
Lamm said residents who have had a flood damage assessment done on their homes can receive financial assistance.
Nita King was one of the residents of the Fairmont Village Apartments, which partially collapsed when the flood came. She said going through the disaster has been hard, financially and mentally. She lost everything, down to the last cotton swab, she said.
Despite what the Red Cross can offer, it doesn't have the power to replace what she lost.
"I'm faithful," she said. "But do I have what I need? No. I lost a lot. We all did."
Keeling was understanding.
"Our purpose is to provide that immediate relief, so it's not necessarily a long term resource we're offering," he said. "So making sure there are basic necessities of shelter, food, clothing, replacement of any lost medical items. We're looking to be that bridge between the disaster event and moving toward long-term recovery."
