Volunteers, Red Cross Bring Aurora Flood Recovery To Full Force

Thursday, March 1, 2018 at 6:27 AM

By Mike Perleberg American Red Cross staff and volunteers at the flood recovery headquarters at the Aurora Lions Club building on Thursday, March 1. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3. (Aurora, Ind.) – About 60 volunteers checked in Thursday to help Aurora recover from its worst flood in more than 20 years. It was just a couple days ago the Lions Club Building had water inside, but city crews helped to get it cleaned up to serve as the headquarters for the recovery. It was buzzing with volunteers on the first day the public was permitted to chip in on the recovery. Volunteers are being assigned to private homes, businesses, streets, and parks. They are cleaning out basements, throwing out destroyed furniture, and piling up driftwood across the flood zone. “We are hauling out a lot of wet and moldy debris, damaged personal items, furniture, plywood, paneling on walls,” said Aurora City Manager Guinevere Emery, who is one of the main coordinators of the effort. A couple men from Florence read the news headlines about the flood in Aurora. They decided to give their time to help remove debris from the fountain at Lesko Park.

Two men from Florence have come to help clear flood debris from Lesko Park in Aurora. pic.twitter.com/PL51RX4tAt

— Eagle Country 99.3 (@eagle993) March 1, 2018 Emery says more large groups are expected to come out and lend a hand on Friday and Saturday, when the weather should be nicer. Flood-affected property owners are encouraged to reach out to Emery if they need help with cleanup. Local businesses are chipping in, too. United Community Bank is providing lunch for the volunteers. Lowe’s Hardware in Lawrenceburg is bringing manpower. Volunteers can check in at the Aurora Lions Club building Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. each day. They will be assigned to an area to help out. Be sure to wear suitable clothing, boots, and gloves. More volunteering opportunities and flood recovery efforts may be announced in the coming days as the floodwater recedes. “I know we’re going to need help. We’re just keeping our eye on that radar,” said Emery. The American Red Cross of the Cincinnati-Dayton Region is now in Aurora to offer their services. Volunteers with the disaster relief organization are distributing emergency supplies, including flood clean-up kits, at the Aurora Lions Club on Second Street until 6:00 p.m. Thursday. The distribution site will also be open from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Red Cross Disaster Assessment teams are in Dearborn & Ohio counties in Southeast, IN inspecting homes impacted by flood damage to determine what help and assistance still needs to be provided to those residents. @eagle993 @joewebb

— Cincinnati Red Cross (@CincyRedCross) March 1, 2018 “Our cleanup kits include a bucket, trash bags, gloves, a broom, squeegee, bleach, cleaner, pretty much anything you’d need in your lighter cleanup,” said Jerry Reardon, DAT Team Leader for the American Red Cross Cincinnati Region. The Red Cross also has staff members available to meet disaster-related health, medical and mental health needs. “We have boots on the ground doing damage assessments. Now, we are into our cleanup stage. From there, we’ll go into our casework where we can try to help further with the recovery,” Reardon added. Emery said fans and dehumidifiers are still badly needed. They can be donated or loaned at the Aurora Lions Club Building between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. through Saturday. Some more good news out of Aurora Thursday includes the reopening of the George Street Bridge. Only State Road 56 at Third Street remains as the only closed street in downtown.

Ohio River flood cleanup is coming along at the Moose Lodge in Aurora. pic.twitter.com/LLvSB7harr

— Eagle Country 99.3 (@eagle993) March 1, 2018 RELATED STORIES: School Students Return Following Flood; Cleanup Just Getting Started Cleanup Underway In Aurora Blocks Once Underwater State Road 350 Bridge Reopened; School Should Reopen Thursday AUDIO: Officials Discuss Dearborn County Flooding Ohio County Declared A Disaster Area Governor Vows Aid For Flooded Communities Volunteer To Help Cleanup Aurora Thurs.-Sat.; Donate Items Starting Tues. Indiana Gov. Declares Disaster Emergency For Dearborn, Switzerland Counties