ROCKVILLE, Md. — A 19-year-old man was found dead after several residents were forced to evacuate their flooded homes at two apartment complexes in Rockville early Wednesday morning, according to a Montgomery County Public Information Officer.
The person who died was at Rock Creek Woods Apartments. An additional resident was unaccounted for Wednesday but was located safe and unharmed Thursday. Officials said the resident was out of state at the time of the floods.
Rock Creek Woods Apartments was one of two complexes that flooded in the area Wednesday morning. Officials said 50 apartments in the 13200 block of Twinbrook Parkway were damaged due to flooding. Montgomery County fire officials said four buildings were impacted at this complex and about 150 residents are displaced.
Gas was turned off in the building, as was the electricity on the terrace level. Red Cross officials responded to the scene to help displaced residents. Three people were transported to area hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries. One firefighter was also transported with minor injuries, officials said.
Interfaith Works is a non-secular interfaith nonprofit coalition of more than 165 affiliated congregations. On Thursday, they worked together to meet the needs of the poor and homeless in Montgomery County. Nearly 70,000 residents are living below the federal poverty line in Montgomery County, and 19,952 of these residents are children.
Thursday they served several families who lost everything in Wednesday's deadly flood.
“We've seen such a significant outpouring of support from the community, the moment people heard that there was a flood," Interfaith Works CEO Courtney Hall said. "They jumped and wanted to find out exactly how they could help. We began getting calls mid-day, particularly from the county, asking if we could step in and help the families if we had anything to distribute. And of course, we did."
Hall said the outpouring of donations over the last 36 hours has been surprising to him and his staff, as people are eager to help their neighbors in need.
"We understand is that people want to help, and we encourage them to find ways, whether with your own community, perhaps, or in other ways that you are able to find ways to help the people of the Rock Creek apartments we'd encourage you to do so," Hall said.
If you want to help, Interfaith Works is looking for basic necessity items for the people who just lost everything. They're accepting clothing (all ages) towels, blankets and other basic household items.
The Interfaith Works Clothing Center is located at 751 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD 20815. You can also donate monetarily to Interfaith Works here.
“The most heartbreaking story I’ve heard so far is from a mother and her children. Their clothes were muddied, their shoes were soaked and really destroyed. The kids came in, got new shoes and got a chance to put on some new clothes," Hall said. "How much this must mean in the middle of an emergency like this when you've had to leave your home at a moment's notice, water's gushing in you really don't have much time to think about exactly what you need except for being able to escape with your life. And to be able to come and be able to receive new and gently used clothing, shoes, and other household goods as well I imagine is a significant relief and for this mother and her children it certainly was.”
Extended donation Hours
- Friday 2 pm to 4 pm
- Saturday 9 am to 12 pm
- Sunday 9 am to 12 pm
Regular donation hours
- Tuesday 9 am to 4:30 pm
- Wednesday 9 am to 4:30 pm
- Thursday 9 am to 4:30 pm
- Saturday 9 am to 2 pm
Interfaith Works says if you want to help, they need new underwear and socks for children of all ages and adults, diapers and wipes, diaper cream, and children’s pajamas. They are also accepting financial donations to programs that will help the families. You can designate your donation as going to “Rock Creek Flood."
You can donate online at www.iworksmc.org. Indicate the donation is for “Rock Creek Flood.