Variety of services available to help in aftermath of flooding

<p class="p1">Shawnee School District No. 34 superintendent Shelly Clover-Hill has shared details about services which are available to help flood victims in the area. Information was shared at a recent flood meeting in Alexander County.</p><p class="p1">Shawnee Development Council Inc. has emergency assistance available for individual needs, such as purchasing cleaning supplies, prescription assistance, food, clothing and shelter. </p><p class="p1">LIHEAP is a program that helps pay utility bills. Income eligible households receive a direct vendor payment upon approval. For more information, contact Alexander County at 618-734-0535, Union County at 833-7431 or the agency's administrative office at 618-634-2201.</p><p class="p1">United Way 2-1-1 crisis, information and referral workers can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days per year by calling United Way 2-1-1. </p><p class="p1">If 2-1-1 is not accessible, call 1-888-865-9903. They provide community services such as counseling, food, health care, housing, transportation and more.</p><p class="p1">Southern Seven Health Department will have private well water test kits and tetanus shots available. For more information, contact Alexander County at 618-734-4220 or Union County at 833-8932.</p><p class="p1">The University of Illinois Extension office has flood information available at articles.extension.org/floods.</p><p class="p1">Those with damaged homes/structures in Alexander County are asked to contact the highway department at 618-734-3955 immediately. </p><p class="p1">Pictures need to be taken of damaged structures before clean-up begins.</p><p class="p1">The Red Cross and Proctor & Gamble dropped off cleaning supplies and paper products at the Alexander County Highway Department. These supplies are available to the public.</p><p class="p2"> </p>