Volunteers help flood victims with basement clean-up
FEMA to visit damaged homes in Topeka Sunday
6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, 2007
Topeka — Nearly two weeks after heavy rains flooded homes in Topeka, Jennifer Conklin is still cleaning up the damage to her home. But, with the help of five strangers, Conklin is taking the next step to getting her mold-ridden basement back to normal.
“Besides being grateful, it does my heart good to know there are people out there that still really care that much,” says Conklin.
Through a program called Project Neighbor to Neighbor, these volunteers say it's their job to help start the rebuilding process and provide encouragement for flood victims.
Kelley Reyes is a catastrophe employee with State Farm Insurance. She made the drive from Holton to lend a helping hand.
“We see it everyday but to really experience it and help somebody out, I wanted to come down and help with that, whatever I could,” says Reyes.
Volunteers helped by bagging up boxes full of clothes and books, as well as hauling vacuums and other material out of basements and to the curb. About a dozen volunteer groups signed up to help residents around Northeast Kansas with flood cleanup.
“I know how tough it is and it's really discouraging when you see this big mess that needs to be cleaned up and you're thinking how am I going to get this done,” says Beth Cooper of the Community Emergency Response Team.
Now that the work is getting done, Conklin says she's looking forward to calling her house “home” again.
Sunday, FEMA will be in Topeka going through some of the homes that were damaged. The visit is only a preliminary assessment to figure out who will qualify for federal assistance.
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