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Heavy downpours from a powerful storm system have left communities throughout the region in disrepair and have killed at least one person in New York state, Daily Voice has reported.
In Berks, residents are taking to GoFundMe to raise money to undo the damage.
- Israel Fuentes of Reading says his family's entire basement was flooded under four feet of water during the storm. While he, his wife, and their three children are safe, Fuentes says they are displaced and will need money for "demolition and mitigation" of the basement.
- Friends of Danny Hinnershitz say his basement apartment was flooded, leaving it "uninhabitable" and destroying nearly all of his belongings. He will need money to replace the daily essentials, loved ones say.
- Dayana Blandon of Reading says her friends Sonny and John lost household items and personal keepsakes when their home flooded. Dayana is collecting donations to help the couple get back on their feet.
- Charlotte Geisler of Lower Alsace said the flood badly damaged her home and destroyed two of her family's cars. She is seeking donations to make repairs to the building, she said.
- Ciara Gordon of Reading says she, her husband, and their five children have been displaced and most of their belongings rendered "unusable." They are seeking donations to replace the essentials and seek a new home.
- Elianna Ortega of Reading says her sister MarciLena and her husband Hugo lost their home, multiple cars, and other belongings. The couple are both auto mechanics and put their "blood, sweat, and tears" into the home, which they built when they were 18. They are seeking donations to help get them back on their feet, Elianna said.
- The Meadow Family of Reading says they had just started bringing items upstairs in their home when the rain seeped in and "became a river of rushing water" on the ground floor. While they were thankfully rescued by first responders who pulled up to their backdoor in a motorboat, the Meadows are seeking donations to navigate the "very long road ahead."
- Tabitha Hedrick of Reading says she and her household of six are seeking donations to help them relocate from their badly damaged home.
- The Hunter Family of Exeter are displaced with two young sons and two dogs and are seeking donations to help them permanently relocate.
Meteorologists say east coast dwellers aren't out of the woods yet — new rounds of storms with localized downpours are expected to touch down Thursday night, July 13 into Friday, July 14, according to the National Weather Service.
In the meantime, the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania has opened a temporary emergency shelter for displaced residents at Glenside Elementary School in Reading. Disaster Action Team volunteers are at the site offering "food, relief supplies, and comfort" to affected residents, the organization said on Facebook.
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