Bonding over flood cleanup

Among the damaged basements and broken sump pumps in the water-logged northern suburbs, local governments are trying to take care of their own , and neighbors are helping neighbors -- many of whom were strangers before the torrential floods of two weeks ago.

``There's a lot of just bonding," said Jamie O'Hara , a member of the Magnolia-based group Citizens for Public Safety .

O'Hara's group, made up of ``just a bunch of regular Joes," has become a local go-to organization, recognized for its efforts to reopen shuttered fire stations in the Magnolia section of Gloucester. Although the flood problems had nothing to do with their original cause, O'Hara said residents affected by the floods sought guidance and help from group members.

``We felt obligated to see what we could do to help," O'Hara said.

Days after the waters receded, O'Hara's group quickly set up a community wide informational meeting, which various city and state officials, including Senator Bruce Tarr , attended. Local pizza and doughnut shops and a supermarket were quick to donate food for the last-minute event, O'Hara said. Although the meeting wasn't ``jovial," O'Hara said it proved valuable as a forum where victims could air their concerns to the right people.

Because the main concern was the collection of trash and debris, these average Joes made it their mission to push city officials into bending the trash pick up restrictions to ease the burden on residents of having to rent dumpsters from private companies, some of which have allegedly inflated prices, O'Hara said.

Some city governments are also taking extra measures, such as waiving trash pick up or inspection fees, to help their communities get back on their feet. Several communities, like Melrose and Haverhill, decided to suspend their trash pick up rules in affected neighborhoods to allow for a speedy cleanup. The extra tonnage has cost them thousands of dollars, but officials said they hope to receive federal or state emergency reimbursement.

``We're taking items that we normally wouldn't," said Bob Beshara , Melrose city engineer and superintendent of public works. ``Rugs, furniture in quantities. We normally don't take wood, but now we are. . . . White goods as well."

Beshara estimated trash collection increased by 50 to 60 tons a day since May 20, costing the city about $4,200 per day.

Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini also decided to forge ahead with flexible trash pick up rules before any official word about federal or state reimbursement to the community.

``We waived all our restrictions and allowed people to take out plaster board, washers, appliances. We also arranged for the highway department to go out with bucket loaders and pick up stuff," Fiorentini said. ``Then we sent out the street sweepers, so if you just drove up and down the street, it looks perfectly normal."

He estimated the extra trash tonnage picked up could cost the city a total of about $20,000 . The city, which continues to pay for hotel rooms for about eight residents who were left homeless, now has an official fund for flood victims. Fiorentini presented the idea of the Haverhill Flood Victims Fund to the City Council last Tuesday to help residents, most without flood insurance, to rebuild.

Melrose resident Amy Lowe did not have to make risky financial decisions for an entire city, but she did have to make a major decision for a house that wasn't her own. Lowe's brother, Chris Hartung , had gone on a cruise vacation to St. Lucia with his wife just before the heavy rains that poured 2 feet of water into the basement of their Bay State Road home, Lowe said.

Her 73-year-old father and her younger brother, who live in Stoneham, were the only ones who could get to Hartung's home, taking turns using the same sump pump for his basement and theirs. Lowe, who lives in Westford, said she wasn't certain what to do until she received an automated e-mail from her dry-cleaning company, letting her know that they also did complete emergency water cleanup.

Concerned about mold, Lowe called the company to assess her brother's home while he was away. The damage was worse than she expected, as the cleanup crews told her it would be a five- to six-day process that could cost up to $5,600 . Not able to reach her brother, Lowe would not authorize that kind of spending. However, she did authorize the company to use dehumidifiers and fans to dry the place (a cost of about $1,000 ) until her brother got home.

``The stress was, `Please let me make the right decision!' " Lowe said. ``They [the cleanup crew] said, `Someone's got to do something, or someone's going to lose a house.' There was water run off and bacteria that'd been sitting there."

Elizabeth Macomber , executive director of the American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts, said the shock is wearing off as many victims take in all that they've lost.

Although the organization provides cleanup kits and supplies to anyone who needs them, it's also set up an information line for people who are looking for assistance or have questions, Macomber said, adding the organization is doing case work, helping with damage assessment s , and providing emotional support.

More than 200 out-of-state volunteers, many just returning from helping out in New Orleans and other areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, flew here to join 200 local volunteers in the recovery efforts, Macomber said.

``Our volunteers have talked about that as they've driven into their neighborhoods; they've seen neighbors helping neighbors, especially the elderly," Macomber said. ``It's great and cooperative."

The Red Cross information line is 1-866-GETINFO. Katheleen Conti can be reached at kconti@globe.com