Agnes to Lee

Agnes came this way in 1972 and caused floods too numerous and deep to count.  So, everyone prepared for the same flooding ... those near the Susquehanna.  Lee caused enough rain to equal the damage of Agnes but did not raise the level of the Susquehanna as much as was expected.  So, some towns did not do as poorly as anticipated.

  However, no one expected the little creeks that snake around so many small towns in this area of the Northeast to spill over with such force and volume.  So, here is the train track that we cross to get into our little town.  Needless to say, the daily train is not coming this way for awhile.

 This is where we cross to get into town.  There is enough space on solid ground to drive across but what a mess it was when the little creek spilled over its banks.  It took a couple of days before anyone could come this way.

 And then came the donations.  Tons of food ... this is only one fifth of the food items.  A HUGE warehouse full ... and... a week later ... donations keep coming ... and people who lost so much keep coming ... and there is still so much to give away.

 Talk about "shop 'til you drop" ... multiply this photo time about five.  Volunteers spend all day sorting, folding and saving only nice clothes.  We filled two dumpsters and even have RAG boxes so people can use 'throw aways' to clean up the mud and goop that is caked on basement floors and walls.
    
Many people lost their winter clothes that were stored the basement.  I helped one family with teenage girls.  They had a ball.  They were not picky at all but made sure that they took no more than they needed.  They are outfitted for the winter with plenty of the cutest clothes... and funky boots and shoes.

This is only one building.  Another building holds furniture, TVs, new appliances and more.  From school supplies to sippie cups ... brand new ... to cleaning items to everything one might need to furnish an entire home ... dozens of times.

 This place was first open to our small town but the donations kept coming.  So the entire county was invited to come.  Now people arrive from as far as they can drive.  The donations keep coming.

  I spent most of the past ten days in this building.  I see new volunteers each day but there is a core group who have gotten to know each other.  We don't want to leave.  We seem to linger a little longer than we should but there are kids to pick up from school and food to cook for supper.
   After about a week, some dear people began to drop off lunch for the volunteers working here.  The fire station in town feeds any and all who wish to come for lunch and dinner.  We can't get away so they bring the food to us.
God is good.
Life is good.
Our little town is good.
And we have a bit of a break from the rain, which is nice.