The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Support from all over New York State and the region has been outstanding according to Town of Jay officials as they struggle to bring their town back to normal following  the August 28th flooding caused by Hurricane Irene. Three trucks dropped off food, storage boxes and other items during during a one hour period this morning at the Town of Jay offices.  Moriah Shock inmates were on hand to unload the trucks. Clerk Carol Hackel was outfitting workers from Surmount Treatment Center in Tupper Lake before they left to help clean out a resident’s flooded basement.

The building holding the Town of Jay offices once served as the local school. It is  filling up with donated clothing, food, cleaning supplies and other items. Hundreds of bags of donated clothing almost fill an upstairs hallway and a large classroom.  Canned goods and other unrefrigerated foods fill another room near the kitchen. A 40-foot refrigerated trailer is packed with everything from bananas to quiche.  Volunteers were working cutting up a delicious roast and preparing a boiled dinner for volunteers. More volunteers are still needed and are invited to call 647-2204 or 647-2201 for scheduling.  People from all over the region have been coming to AuSable Forks to help out.

The large room which once served as a school gymnasium is filled with staff members from a host of federal and state agencies.  People were coming in to file claims and to seek other help. The agencies on hand include FEMA, The NYS Departments of Health and Labor, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, The Social Security Administration and others. They are all there to serve people in any way possible and invite people to come forward for their services.  (Click here for more photos)