Connellsville picnic goers reflect on flooding one year later
Eric Morris | 蘑菇视频
Attendees move down the serving line at the 鈥淧icnic of Reflection鈥� to commemorate the anniversary of severe flooding in Connellsville.
Eric Morris | 蘑菇视频
Misty Huffine (right) and Beth Friguglietti hand out 鈥淐onnellsville Strong鈥� T-shirts to attendees of a 鈥淧icnic of Reflection鈥� at Woodruff Park in Connellsville.
Eric Morris | 蘑菇视频
Jacinta Ptacek and Connellsville police officer Brian Connors share a laugh during the 鈥淧icnic of Reflection鈥� for Connellsville flood survivors and recovery volunteers Sunday at Woodruff Park.
Eric Morris | 蘑菇视频
Father and son Domenic (left) and Dylan Friguglietti prepare their plates at the Connellsville 鈥淧icnic of Reflection鈥� at Woodruff Park in the Dutch Bottom area of Connellsville on Sunday.
A year ago, Woodruff Park was under water.
Located in the Dutch Bottom area of Connellsville, the park and surrounding streets were ravaged by flash flooding that affected hundreds of people and dozens of homes and businesses in the city and surrounding townships.
But one year later, on the eve of the anniversary of the disaster, the park was bustling with people 鈥� flood survivors, recovery helpers, neighbors and community members 鈥� looking to reflect on a year蘑菇视频 worth of struggles.
In a 鈥減icnic of reflection鈥� held Sunday afternoon in Dutch Bottom, Connellsville residents came together to remember the harrowing night of Aug. 28, 2016, and the way the community banded together in the aftermath of the disastrous event.
Connellsville Mayor Greg Lincoln called that outpouring of support a silver lining through the disaster.
鈥淎fter a year, we鈥檙e all back together again 鈥� and it蘑菇视频 for something good,鈥� said Lincoln, who provided words of support and encouragement to flood survivors Sunday.
Connellsville city and flood recovery officials organized the picnic to commemorate the catastrophic event and reflect on the journey that flood victims and the city as a whole has taken over the past year.
The picnic was especially designed to bring together again residents affected by last year蘑菇视频 flooding and the first responders and community volunteers who came to their aid.
Though not a celebration, the communal event gave community members the opportunity to unite over food, friends and entertainment.
Although many flood survivors are ready to put the trying times behind them and move forward, it doesn鈥檛 mean they鈥檙e ready to forget the past.
Dutch Bottom residents Fred and Susan Sandusky were forced to leave their Connell Avenue home of 36 years on the night of the flooding. The home, said Fred Sandusky, had been in his family since 1875. But while it蘑菇视频 been tough to cope with loss, the picnic shows how supportive the community is, he said.
鈥淢ore than anything, it蘑菇视频 bringing the neighborhood back together,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just grateful that the city and all the powers that be came up with this idea. It goes a long way to help process the feeling of loss.鈥�
Flood recovery efforts last year were underscored by an outpouring of support from the community, with many individuals volunteering their time to cleanup efforts and donating money and supplies to help those in need.
In the year that has passed, flood survivors have battled to get back on their feet. Lincoln said the city and surrounding areas are still in 鈥渞ecovery mode,鈥� with many families still waiting on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) mitigation money. Several homes in Dutch Bottom and other affected communities that were damaged in last year蘑菇视频 flooding are still awaiting demolition.
In attendance Sunday was PEMA director Rick Flinn Jr., who was on the ground in Connellsville last year in the aftermath of the flood and whose agency has been integral in helping survivors get back on their feet.
鈥淚鈥檓 here because this is a great example of the whole community approach to disaster recovery,鈥� said Flinn, praising the work of the local government, volunteer and faith-based organizations and individuals over the past year in response to the disaster.
鈥淒isaster recovery is not just government-centric; it蘑菇视频 the whole community, and this community came together,鈥� said Flinn.
Lincoln thanked several community members and organizations for donating materials for the picnic, adding that the continued support is a testament to the strength of the Greater Connellsville community.
鈥淭hey did what they鈥檙e supposed to do in a time of need,鈥� said Lincoln. 鈥淭he community reacts when there蘑菇视频 a need, and we came through.鈥�