Volunteers continue their efforts a week after Connellsville area, Bullskin Township flooding
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Noa Leapline (left), 11, and her brother Aden, 9, turn away as their mother Salvia Leapline receives a tearful hug from Theda Upton. The Leapline family walked door to door, Thursday, along the area of Connellsville’s north end, affected by recent major flooding, offering residents and volunteers home-made sandwiches and carried bottled water.
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Noa Leapline (left), 11, and her brother Aden, 9, make sandwiches as they prepare to walk door to door, Thursday, along the area of Connellsville’s north end, affected by recent major flooding, offering residents and volunteers the sandwiches and bottled water.
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
The Leapline family, Gerald, Salvia, Aden, and Noa walk door to door along Connellsville’s Connell Street offering residents, affected by recent major flooding, home-made sandwiches and bottled water.
A week after heavy rains flooded parts of the Connellsville area and Bullskin Township, the road to recovery is still being paved with the efforts of those trying to help.
Volunteers helping with cleanup throughout the flood-ravaged city and townships said it’s rare to go more than an hour before someone comes along offering food or drinks; a small comfort during a difficult time.
While restaurants throughout the county have donated meals, some of the food comes from residents who want to offer any means of assistance they can.
The Leapline family, who lives in North Manor Apartments, were spared from flood damage. Salvia Leapline said they recognize some of their neighbors weren’t as fortunate.
On Monday, Leapline and her daughter, Noa, 11, bought chipped ham, buns, water and sports drinks to pass out to volunteers and victims.
Late in the week, accompanied by her husband, Gerald, and their son, Aden, 9, and her neighbor, Karen Snyder, and her children, Kelsey and Bryan, Salvia Leapline continued to pass out sandwiches and drinks to her neighbors.
“You guys are awesome!” said Theda Upton, accepting a sandwich while cleaning the outside of her Connellsville home on Thursday. “Thank you so much!”
While Salvia Leapline is aware that her children aren’t old or big enough to help with shoveling debris or making repairs, she said she’s glad her children are learning to help their neighbors in need.
“There’s not much they can do, but they can do this,” Salvia Leapline said, adding that the family plans to continue to help whenever it’s needed.
Her son agreed.
“All kids should help out,” Aden Leapline said.
“All day long, we’re having calls about volunteers,” Connellsville Mayor Greg Lincoln said.
The response, he said, has been overwhelming.
Lincoln said the efforts of those like the Leaplines shows how amazing people from all walks of life can be when coming to the aid of others.
“They generally care about the well being of others,” Lincoln said. “It’s a way to show the flood victims are not alone.”
Chip Rowan, the executive director of Connellsville Area Community Ministries, said outpouring of assistance has been exceptional.
“In the midst of the tragedy, I see light as I see our community pulling together to help those who have lost so much,” Rowan said. “The response from outside Fayette County has been great, too.”
Connellsville City Secretary Vern Ohler said the spirits of his city hall are good and their work in the past week was outstanding as they, along with members of city council, shared duties, including gathering home owner information, directing traffic, coordinating meals for volunteers and gathering resources.
“We have been working together,” Ohler said. “The communication has been great.”
With the ministry designated to collect donations to provide help to the flood victims, Rowan said they have received nearly $70,000 as of late last week.
Rowan said they will form a post-disaster recovery team with representation from Connellsville, Connellsville Township and Bullskin Township, one representative from the ministry and representatives from the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul.
“This team will administer how the funds will be distributed,” Rowan said.
Rowan added that anyone interested in making a monetary donation can make checks payable to CACM with the memo “Flood Relief” and mail it to Connellsville Area Community Ministries, 110 W. Crawford Avenue, Connellsville, Pa., 15425.
Rowan said other items they need include plastic storage containers and gift cards for stores like Wal-Mart or other grocery stores.
Anyone who wants to donate or needs help, Rowan said, can either contact the ministry at 724-626-1120 or visit their website at www.connmin.org
“To those who were impacted by the flood, we are sorry for your loss. Please know that we will do all we can to help you through this time of crisis,” Rowan said. “To those who have provide resources to help our neighbors, thank you for the generosity and care that you have demonstrated.”
Lincoln said the sources of the volunteers that have been coming in is “everything you can think of” from local businesses, church, organizations, schools, sports teams, nurses and the list goes on.
“People are literally getting off work, and they’re coming here,” Lincoln said. “They’re wanting to give a few hours of their time.”
The Red Cross says that its damage assessment teams have surveyed 255 homes so far, finding 31 to be completely destroyed and 60 to be severely damaged.
“Our goal is to have homes rebuilt,” Lincoln said. “We don’t want this to become a vacant lot.”
Ohler said some affected homes are receiving free inspections by local contractors in an effort to get as many homes hooked back up to utilities.
“We’re going to need some furnace people to do inspections for things like hot water tanks and furnaces,” Ohler said, adding that once those appliances pass inspection and everything is deemed safe, the home’s power can be reactivated.
Ohler said there’s a still a coordinated effort in cleaning out basements and storm drains in the area.
Some things are starting to return to normal in Connellsville, as the New Haven Hose Co. VFD fire station that has housed much of the donated supplies will be the site of a previously scheduled wedding reception.
Ohler said those donated items have been moved to the East Side Fire Station along Arch Street in Connellsville and will be the new drop-off point for donations.
Anyone needing to contact the East Side Fire Station can do so through Connellsville City Hall at 724-628-2020, ext. 202.
As for donations, Ohler said they are in immediate need of bleach and cleaning supplies as well as personal hygiene products.
“We’re trying to gather some more building materials, trying to get stuff to Bullskin as well,” Ohler said.
The Greater Connellsville Community Center along Fairview Avenue is also accepting donations, and the ministry is accepting both nonperishable food items and money.
“The first day was mostly working with people and organizations who wanted to help,” Rowan said, adding that the week following the flood was extremely busy for both the staff and volunteers at the ministry.
“Answering phones, receiving donations, responding to emails and Facebook messages, interviewing clients who suffered loss and finding ways to help them,” Rowan said. “We have solicited for meals to help the Salvation Army’s mobile canteen to provide three meals a day for 200 volunteers.”
Rowan thanked the local restaurants, businesses and churches who have been exceptional in providing meals, but said they are in need of meals for the next few days.
“The food must be prepared in a certified commercial kitchen,” Rowan said, adding that home-prepared meals are not permitted. “If your restaurant, business or church could provide a meal, call 724-626-1120.”
Rowan said food suggestions include donuts, danishes or muffins for breakfast; sandwiches or pizza for lunch; and pasta or chicken for dinner.
The Connellsville Area School District is providing tetanus immunization to any district staff or community volunteers serving in the disaster recovery process within the school district.
The 100 immunizations will arrive in the district today, and be available at the Connellsville Area middle and high school locations.
Connellsville Township Supervisor Tom Cesario said donations and volunteers can go to the Connellsville Township VFD along Fireman Street. Dumpsters are also there for residents to throw away any flood damaged items, except for televisions and computer monitors.
While Bullskin residents were recently told to burn as much debris as possible, local organizers informed them there are currently six trash collectors throughout the township.
With the infrastructure and homes damaged in Bullskin Township, officials said people should call Albright United Methodist Church at 724-628-7130 for any help with contracting, electrical knowledge or manual labor.
The church is pairing volunteers with the different needs in certain areas.
“We’re fighting different battles in the same war,” Ohler said.
Those who want to volunteer are to call 724-626-1111.
“If you can give your time later, that will be accepted,” Ohler said. “We’re all in this together.”