In the wake of recent severe rainfall and flooding, Red Cross volunteers have been out in hard-hit communities, checking in with families as they begin to pick up the pieces. In the community of Pompton Lakes, many families were still recovering from river flooding just three weeks earlier.

Frank Renshaw and Vera Coppola canvassed the streets nearest the river, speaking to people who were cleaning out their basements, garages and first floors. Some were pulling up carpet and tearing down moldy drywall, while others were cleaning up debris in their yards. The volunteer duo offered families some lunch sandwiches and soup, along with water. They also offered clean-up kits, which include bleach, a bucket, scrubbers and sponges, mops, brooms, long-handle squeegees, garbage bags, and gloves.

Pompton Lakes resident Mevludie Kaba said her home looked like it was in the middle of a lake. An all too familiar scene. The family has lived in their home for 25 years and they’ve experienced their fair share of flooding -- she estimates about ten floods in that time. “But for the past ten years we haven’t had a flood, she said. “Things were fine.”

That was until three weeks ago when heavy rainfall flooded the nearby river resulting in about two feet of water in her home. Then, a second storm came through and they found themselves flooded again. “It’s been traumatizing, but we are stronger than you think.” Mevludie paused and then added, “I’m tired of being strong. This is emotional for us.”

After spending a few minutes sharing her story and thanking Frank and Vera for being there, the family took a lunch break before getting back to cleaning up.

It was a familiar site on neighboring streets – piles of garbage bags and wet carpet outside and at some homes, appliances like washers and dryers were taken out to the curb.

_{"My heart goes out to these families. I was on these same streets doing disaster assessment a couple weeks ago during the first flood."}

In her 11 years as a volunteer, Vera has deployed to Florida, Hawaii, Maine, and California to help after devastating disasters like wild-fires, hurricanes and massive flooding. She also helps families affected by home fires here in New Jersey as a Disaster Action Team member. She’s seen a lot, but this disaster in her own home state will leave a mark because it was one after another.

Red Cross teams know how difficult these experiences can be, which is why their help is so compassionate. Our mobile teams continue to provide support to families affected by these floods in New Jersey towns like New Milford, Paterson, Delran, Cinnaminson, Lodi, Denville, Little Falls, Wayne, and Lincoln Park.