Flood response: ‘It’s going to take time’

Cambridge City, Wayne County and state officials urge the town’s flood victims and all residents to be patient as services are restored and procedures are followed to help maximize relief funding.

A Sunday, Aug. 16, town hall meeting filled more than half of Lincoln Middle/High School’s bleachers, drawing residents, business owners and concerned community leaders to gather information and ask questions about their circumstances.

“You’ve all done a great job working together,” Jim McLane, town council president, said to applause.

McLane said he expects numbers from a preliminary damage assessment to rise. So far, 174 homes have received major damage and 71 have minor damage, which includes water in basements. Four buildings have been declared destroyed. All residents are urged to report damage by calling 211 and completing a Wayne County Emergency Management Agency Survey at https://form.jotform.com/262253740458055.

Matthew Cain, Wayne County EMA director, McLane and other leaders asked for patience and compliance with guidelines being shared so communities can capture the maximum amount of funding for rebuilding. Cain noted the process is a marathon, not a sprint, and said local officials will remain available for ongoing assistance.

“You need money yesterday, but it’s going to take time,” Cain cautioned. “…It won’t be as fast as you want it done.”

Residents are asked to take pictures and videos of their destroyed homes and property and keep every receipt for every expense they’ve incurred because of the disaster.

Federal officials have declared a very limited disaster, but more data is being gathered to receive major federal assistance.

Wayne County residents will have advocates, but they are not yet in place. A long-term recovery team is being formed, and case managers will be provided to help each affected household navigate damage recovery. Case managers will include local residents who weren’t personally affected by the floods to avoid conflicts of interest. It’s expected to take about two weeks to get them trained and operational.

One of the most important short-term decisions residents can make is following guidelines for disposing their flood-damaged items. They shouldn’t be included in regular weekly trash pickup.

Cambridge City residents should place damaged items at the curb and save them for upcoming weighing and disposal through town dumpsters that are coming soon to Second and Green streets, across from the former Miller plant. That process helps demonstrate the magnitude of the disaster and could affect the town’s qualification for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds.

Volunteers are being mobilized to help residents transport their trash to those dumpsters if needed. Information about those resources will be shared soon.

Debris should be separated into five categories: Vegetative (leaves, logs, branches); construction/demolition (furniture, mattresses, lumber, carpet, drywall, etc.); appliances and water heaters; electronics/devices with a cord; and household hazardous waste (cleaning supplies, batteries, lawn chemicals, oils, oil-based paints/stains, pesticides). Normal household trash and bagged debris of any kind won’t be picked up as part of the program, a flyer distributed at the meeting said.

Wayne County residents outside incorporated city or town limits can take their flood debris to Wayne County Refuse Disposal at 20 Paul R. Foulke Parkway in Hagerstown. Hours are being temporarily extended to 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Residents must provide proof of address such as a driver’s license or utility bill. Unaccepted items include hazardous materials, chemicals, tires, electronics, appliances, propane tanks, paint or yard waste.

If items aren’t separated, they can jeopardize community funding.

Those who have wet items are encouraged to focus on removing them as soon as possible to reduce mold contamination spreading throughout the home. However, residents should not enter unsafe homes to retrieve belongings, officials said.

Trained volunteer disaster response teams are being mobilized throughout the state to come to Wayne County. They can provide mold remediation services worth up to $10,000 at no charge for those who indicate a need.

Danny Berry, lead pastor of Cambridge City Christian Church, which is serving as the central distribution point for donated items and services, received applause after noting that support has come from all over the nation.

Some humor punctuated the serious topics being discussed, such as when McLane encouraged residents to take advantage of free showers being offered at Golay Community Center.

“Your friends and neighbors will be glad you did,” McLane said to laughter.

Watch the full meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mtxkfSiS1s.