Local agencies that helped flood victims immediately after water inundated the area still stand ready to help.
American Red Cross assists with shelter, The Salvation Army offers clothing, food and toiletries, and Tiffin-Seneca United Way distributes laundry vouchers.
"To me, if each agency takes a piece of the puzzle, we can get this put back together faster," said Pat DeMonte, United Way's executive director.
DeMonte said United Way had helped 11 families as of Thursday evening. The agency had disaster relief funding left from flooding in 2007 and 2008 and is using it to provide Southside Laundry vouchers to help people clean items damaged in this week's flooding.
DeMonte said a long-term disaster relief committee is to meet today. The goal of the committee is to identify the needs of flood victims and help them get back their stability and return to their homes, she said.
The group had formed in the past and is reconvening.
Fact Box
Get, give help
The Salvation Army needs bedding, blankets, clothing and toiletries to distribute to flood victims. Donations can be dropped off at 505 E. Market St. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those wishing to drop off donations 6-7:30 p.m. should call (419) 447-2252 to make sure someone is there. Flood victims needing help can call or visit the agency.
People seeking help from the local American Red Cross chapter can call (419) 447-1424. Tiffin-Seneca United Way's First Call for Help can be reached at (419) 448-4357.
"We're trying to bring everybody together again," she said.
Capt. Jerry Uttley of The Salvation Army said people in need of clothing, food and toiletries visited the facility Thursday. The agency will help as long as flood victims have a need, he said.
"We'll be helping probably for the long haul with clothes and food and basic necessities, like toothpaste and soap and shampoo," he said.
The Salvation Army has been running short on clothing and food as people come for help, Uttley said.
"The donations that we have been receiving have been very supportive and very generous, and it seems like as soon as it comes in, it goes right out the door. ... It's been a blessing that the community has been stepping up to help their neighbors and friends around the community," he said.
Although American Red Cross' shelter no longer is operating, the agency still is assisting people.
"We've had a lot of calls," Director John Sherer said.
American Red Cross operated a shelter at Seneca County Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. Monday to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Sherer said 35 people were at the shelter, and the agency served 172 meals.
"If we open a shelter, we also feed them," he said.
Sherer said the people who remained at the shelter when it closed got back into their residences at Riverbend Apartments. The residents of four basement apartments were relocated to vacant second- and third-floor apartments, he said.
"They just got a different apartment in the same building," he said.
Sherer said he has been in Tiffin for 66 years and never had seen Rock Creek do anything like what it did this week.
"That was so strange. ... I hope it never does it again, either," he said.
