Volunteers survey flood damage

The United Way in Superior is collecting a group of volunteers to comb neighborhoods for those people who have not received help with their flood damage. It’s estimated that more than 500 homes were damaged in Superior/Douglas County by last’s month’s flooding.

Volunteers will be attempting to reach people who have not been able to report their flood damage. United Way Director Kathi Madsen says the goal is to reach people who have not been able to ask for help.

“Right now we are looking for people who did not know where to call or go online to register their needs and what they need help with elderly disabled people who did not know about the resources, so we are going to canvas those areas.”

Although volunteers will not be assisting in the cleanup at this time, Madsen says the volunteers are going to help flood victims get in touch with the people who can.

“We have not been trained to do that, there are people that have been trained to do that. Right now we are asking what they still need. Do they need somebody to clean out their basement, do they need somebody is their basement cleaned out but they need help getting things to the end of their driveway so that they can get picked up. Do they need to sanitize their basement? Do they need help in replacing things? We do not know what that needs is, we are asking about the need, we are not doing the work at this point.”

Volunteers will be looking for people who need help but do not have the means to find it. Madsen says that training courses for volunteers will be available next week. Canvassers will be focusing on the hardest hit flooded areas in Superior.

Nonprofit organizations around Douglas County are chipping in however they can. Sometimes it’s the little things in life that are appreciated. YMCA Director Michael Kraft says the YMCA is helping residents of Superior and Douglas County maintain good hygiene with free showers.

If you would like to help out you can contact the United Way at (715) 394-2733.

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