SEYMOUR, Conn. — Home and business owners impacted by this week’s historic flooding in Western Connecticut got some much-needed help.
Ocean State Job Lot donated personal protective equipment to storm victims in Seymour who are cleaning up the damage.
For Norman Plude, the image of rising flood water approaching his Seymour home is a sight he won’t soon forget.
“Within five minutes it went from, the river [being] 100 feet in the back yard until it was like at the doorstep and just ready to go over into the Derby Avenue,” Plude said.
Now that the clouds have cleared, a reminder of Sunday’s storm remains.
“Right now, I’m trying to get my basement cleaned out. Everything's just a mess. You can't go down to the basement. I have black mold growing now,” he said.
For many residents hit hard by severe weather, it is difficult to know where to start as they try to move forward. That’s why the community is stepping in to lend a hand.
“(We want to) help with the cleanup efforts and to provide just a little bit of relief for the situation and terrible tragedy that happened,” Jim Hines, regional director, Ocean State Job Lot, said.
The local business donated storm supplies in the Westwood Plaza Shopping Center in Seymour Thursday.
“PPE, hand sanitizer, gloves masks, hazmat suits, some hand sanitizer. All the things that are [neccessary]. Anybody that has come in contact with the mud [or] water should be wearing,” Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis said.
The personal protective equipment alone won’t solve all of Norman’s home problems, but it is one less thing to worry about. It is also a glimmer of hope that he and his neighbors can get through the storm's aftermath by supporting one another.
“We all stick together,” Plude said. “We're all trying to help each other out here any way we can. It's amazing what this town is doing.”
RELATED: Seymour small business owners face an uncertain future following heavy flooding at Klarides Village
----
Bridgette Bjorlo is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at bbjorlo@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
----
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.