Thousands spend day in line for food aid
HIS DISASTER DECLARATION.
>>> CUMBERLAND COUNTY'S
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
PULLED DOUBLE DUTY TODAY
HELPING FLOOD VICTIMS ANSWERING
REGULAR CLIENTS NOT IMPACTED BY
THE STORM.
GILBERT BAEZ HAS MORE.
>> Reporter: I TELL YOU, IT HAS
BEEN A MADHOUSE HERE AT DSS FOR
THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
WE ARE TOLD ABOUT 2500 PEOPLE
HAVE ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE IN
REPLACING THE SPOILED
UNDERSTOOD.
AS I WALKED AROUND THE LINE
THAT WRAPPED AROUND THIS
BUILDING, YOU HEARD COUNTLESS
HEART-BREAKING STORIES FROM
THESE VICTIMS WHO TELL ME HOW
HURRICANE MATTHEW HAS TURNED
THEIR LIVES UPSIDE DOWN.
THEY CAME BY THE HUNDREDS TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES.
MOTHERS, FATHERS, GRANDPARENTS
AND CHILDREN, EACH WITH A
SURVIVAL STORY THAT WOULD BREAK
YOUR HEART.
LISA JONES WAS PULLED FROM HER
FLOODED HOME BY BOAT.
>> I HAD TO LEAVE MY SISTER.
SHE ON THE ROOF.
BY THEN, SOMEONE DECIDED TO
COME BY HELICOPTER AND GET HER.
>> Reporter: JONES NOW LIVES
WITH 30 OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS IN
ONE HOUSE OFF PARKTON ROAD.
TODAY, SHE HOPES TO GET MONEY
TO HELP REPLACE FOOD WASHED
AWAY BY FLOOD WATER.
>> AS THE WATER ROSE, THE
FREEZER STEADILY FLOATED OFF
THE PORCH, OPEN AND EVERYTHING
IS GONE.
>> Reporter: SOME PEOPLE
WEREN'T FLOODED OUT BUT THEY
LOST POWER FOR DAYS, SPOILING
EVERYTHING IN THE
REFRIGERATORS.
>> MILK, EGGS, ANYTHING THAT IS
PERISHABLE ITEM ESPECIALLY IN
YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, YOU
HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO
ACCOMMODATE THEM.
>> Reporter: IT MAY TAKE 24 TO
72 HOURS TO GET REPLACEMENT
FOOD STAMPS OR FOOD DEBIT
CARDS.
FOR MANY PEOPLE WAITING IN THE
LINE, THE LOSS IS UNIMAGINABLE.
>> I LOST EVERYTHING.
I LAWSUIT THE HOUSE AND THE
CAR.
THE SAYING IS YOU TRY TO KEEP
YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER.
I CAN'T SAY MY HEAD WAS ABOVE
WATER.
I'M ALIVE AND MY KIDS ARE
ALIVE.
>> Reporter: I TELL YOU, THE
INTERESTING THING AS I WAS
INTERVIEWING THESE FOLKS IN
LINE, FOLKS THAT WERE STANDING
BESIDE THOSE PEOPLE TALKING TO
ME STARTED CRYING.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE REALLY SEEN
WHAT THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF
THIS STORM HAS HAD ON FOLKS.