Erica McClellan/FOR THE SUMMER POST Kerry Porche, an Amesville resident, paddles around the corner of State and Franklin streets in search of his family. Porche had returned from Nebraska to find his town flooded. Donations and volunteers who want to help with the cleanup should contact the Amesville Sheriff's Department.

The storms and floods that left 11 dead in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio have ceased, but the monumental task of the cleanup remains.

Gov. George Voinovich, who declared a state of emergency in 24 Eastern and Southeastern Ohio counties, said in a press release Tuesday that Federal Emergency Management Agency officials will tour the flood-devastated areas today, but he offered no guarantees about aid to individuals.

Jeff Withem, a resident of Amesville, said last year they received financial relief, but it came many months after the flood.

The areas hardest hit in Athens County from this recent disaster were Amesville, Canaan, Glouster, Jacksonville, Sharpsburg and Trimble.

"A lot of homes were damaged," Lt. Pat Kelly of the Athens County Sheriff's Office said. "We're still patrolling the area. It's going to take a few weeks to assess the damages."

The Red Cross estimates that 193 homes were affected by the flooding, said Sandra Shirey, director of Athens chapter of the Red Cross.

Red Cross volunteers initially set up two shelters to house flood victims, but already have shut down one. Another shelter in Jacksonville will be shut down in the next few days because people are starting to move back into their homes, Shirey said.

Many people from the Red Cross had volunteered at least 12 to 14 hours a day to help with the cleanup, she said.

Members of the Red Cross are not the only ones volunteering their time. The Ohio National Guard has been brought in to help flood victims' recovery.

"They are maintaining security, providing a loader, and brought water," Withem said.

Employees from OU's Facilities Management also are helping with the flood relief.

Derek Smith, an OU student working for Facilities Management, said that yesterday they moved furniture and separated it into good piles and bad piles on the street. The National Guard then came and hauled the bad piles away. He said they also tore ceiling tiles out and took wood paneling off walls.

Community members, relatives, friends and students are assisting with the recovery efforts alongside the National Guard, Red Cross and Facilities Management.

Rob Kaiser, a philosophy major at OU who volunteered in Amesville, said he came out on Tuesday with a group of students in summer sessions and then came back again yesterday.

"I wasn't doing anything today, so I thought I would come out and help," Kaiser said.

"I'm washing dishes, making up care kits to take over to the church and driving to houses around the area handing out fliers," he said.

"They said it's a lot worse than last year, mainly because the water stood up a lot longer. Last year it came and went, but this year it came and stayed. I heard the water was up to the second story," he said.