Shelter Shuffle Continues in Susquehanna County

Susquehanna County-- Recovery efforts are well underway for some in Susquehanna county. But for others, there is a long road ahead.

In some ways, things are returning to normal in the communities we visited Tuesday morning, after flood waters tore through the area last week.

But for at least a few dozen people, the weeks to come will be difficult-- as they continue trying to find their way back home.

Although it's happening days later than expected, there's a calming sense of normalcy as students come back for their first day of classes in the Blue Ridge School District.

For part of the last week, an emergency shelter was set up here for evacuees from Hallstead, Great Bend, and New Milford.

Elementary Principal Matthew Button said, "I think the best part is the teachers were really prepared, and I think we'll have a great start to the school year and bring some consistency, and a safe, clean environment to the kids that were affected. "

Parent Jolene Conigliaro added, "I think it's going to be a good day. I think it's a good day for everybody. It's kind of like, that mess is over and we're going to start fresh and get the kids back to school, get them back on a schedule."

But while things are starting to get back to normal here in Susquehanna County, there's still a lot of work to be done.

About 30 evacuees here are moving to their third shelter in a span of several days.

Most who are left here were residents of a hard-hit mobile home park near Great Bend.

They started at the school, moved to the Great Bend Hose Company, and now will find shelter at a gymnasium at the Montrose Bible Conference Center.

Ken Rieger, of the American Red Cross, noted, "Hopefully starting today or tomorrow, client caseworkers can start working with them, for the people that can't get back in, and helping them relocate."

For the most part, people are in good spirits here, as they help each other move on from the devastation of the flood of 2011.

Arlene Hendrickson, an evacuee from Great Bend, explained, "I've been working with people for about 30 years now. When people are down in the dumps, we pick them up. We try to give them the encouragement they need."

Officials say they hope to have the last evacuees back into homes-- whether their own, or some form of temporary housing-- within a week's time.