Flood Memories Bring Fund Drive

Residents of the small Ohio town of Shadyside feel a kinship with those Californians who lost their friends, homes and belongings in the recent floods.

Their memories are still fresh of the flash floods of 1990, which killed 26 people when the banks of the Pipe and Weegee creeks overflowed, just south of Shadyside.

And they have not forgotten how many people sent them letters, money and support from all over the nation.

“These things make us feel close to these people in California,” said Paul Maxian, a member of a church group that set up a fund Tuesday to help California flood victims.

“Our people are pretty familiar with having troubles with water,” he said.

Belmont National Bank opened the Shadyside Fellowship of Churches’ account Tuesday with $250, a volunteer firefighters’ association voted Wednesday to give $50, and Maxian said he had another $56 to put in as of Thursday, for a total of $356 so far.

“We feel that so many people responded when we were in need,” he said. “This is therapeutic for our people . . . a way of giving back.”

The 1,500-member church group will continue raising money until April 21, Maxian said.

Darlene Smith, the branch manager of Belmont National Bank, remembers having foot-deep water in her home in 1990. She said she believes that the fund is a good idea, but she has one concern.

“I just hope people in this area respond as generously as people responded to us,” she said.