Lewis County flood victims still picking up the pieces

Lewis County flood victims still picking up the pieces

By KOMO Staff

LEWIS COUNTY, Wash. -- It's been almost four months since floodwaters ravaged the county, but many, many people still need a lot of help. R Place for Refuge organized a large distribution for them.

More than 100 families lined up for a free shopping spree for food, clothing and what most people need most right now -- building supplies.

Volunteers unloaded three big trucks full of donated items and more than 100 families lined up to show their FEMA numbers and identification.

The families came to find the items they need but just can't afford to buy. One woman asked for a baby bathtub and she walked out with one.

Marcy Mason wasn't really sure what she was looking for. She came with her 5-week-old son Eli, whom she was pregnant with when she escaped from the floodwaters with her husband and 5-year-old daughter. The family survived, but lost everything.

"We're making do. We're living at my mom and dad's, and we're just waiting for financing for a new manufactured home to come in," she said.

Others are able to rebuild and repair the damage left behind by the flood. They carried off windows, doors, lumber, linoleum flooring, appliances and even light fixtures.

Rafael Pantoja found a great fixture to replace the one lost in his hallway. The floodwaters rose 5 feet into his house in Chehalis, forcing him to replace everything.

"Well, right now I need sheetrock, insulation to rebuild. You know, I need some windows because I have to change all of the windows in the house," he said.

Sheetrock and Insulation are the two things most in demand right now.

One woman, unable to find any sheetrock, decided to improvise, carrying out several large sheets of particle board.

"This is my new wall because I have no more sheetrock," she said.

There wasn't much left at the end of the day, but it was all taken over the Centralia Salvation Army to be distributed from there.
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