A call to help following flooding in Georgia
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After heavy rains stormed through the Atlanta, Ga., area Sept. 21-22, Church area authorities issued a call for help Saturday, Sept. 26. The call came Saturday afternoon, asking for at least 300 volunteers to clean and work in the flooded homes in Cobb County, Georgia, Sunday morning.
By early Sunday morning, more than 1,000 members from six stakes gathered to wear yellow helping hands shirts and go to work.
"We gathered that morning at 8:30 and worked until 4 p.m.," said Gary L. Futral, president of the Marietta Georgia East Stake. "It was hard and dirty, but nobody complained. When people are so desperately in need of help... we are so very pleased that we were able in some small way to step up and help our neighbors in need."
Members from the area spent the day removing soaked furniture, drywall, insulation and flooring to prevent mold and further damage to the flooded homes. More than 150 homes were cleaned.
"There is a lot of major inconvenience, a lot of basements flooded, but all are fine," said Scott K. Henrichsen, bishop of the Carrollton Ward, Powder Springs Georgia Stake.
Although many of the members within the area had flooded basements, all are safe and accounted for.
But more than just Church members gathered to clean-up the flooded area. Other churches in the area joined members in their clean-up efforts, allowing more homes to be cleaned as well as friendships to be formed.
"When it comes to something like this, it doesn't matter who it is, we are so happy to help," said President Futral. "With 15-20 inches of rain in two days, everybody was soaked."
