A team from Peachland is helping Merritt homeowners clean out their homes following the devastating floods.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Lloyd Sotas

A Peachland resident is helping clean out Merritt homes that were heavily impacted by the Atmospheric River weather event.

Lloyd Sotas spent two days last week cleaning out flooded basements and on Thursday took a team of six other residents eager to get their hands dirty with the help of Samaritan’s Purse.

“I knew once the first two days were over that I’d be coming back,” Sotas said. “It’s incumbent for everyone to be aware of what’s happening in their province, and in their communities, but I’m just one guy, people are coming from all over.”

The Thursday clean-up went well, with the team working to clear out mud, and taking down walls and insulation to be hauled away from two houses.

“With effort, we can get them back to livable condition for most of the families. They certainly need help,” Sotas said.

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Sotas and the team met with homeowners, who expressed their gratitude, and thankfulness for the support they have been receiving from British Columbians.

“They were very thankful for everything we were doing. They are very happy to have the support,” Sotas said. “The real inspiration was understanding the depths that these people are sunk in, they have no heat for the winter, their houses are unlivable for the time being, and they need help. When folks need help, it’s a good thing for other people to step up and help out.”

Going forward, Sotas is planning to travel back to Merritt for another round of cleaning out basements and is looking to bring even more people willing to help with him.

“It was a very rewarding and continues to be a rewarding experience to know you can help out, you just have to provide some labour and try to help those folks get back on their feet. I will be doing it again at least once more,” he said.

Properties are cleaned on a first come first serve basis. Samaritan’s Purse is working down the list of homeowners who request assistance.

“I can’t say enough of the organization, and how well they are responding to the need,” Sotas said.

READ MORE: Merritt woman creates ‘Merritt Strong’ fundraiser for community out of flooded t-shirts

Sotas can connect to Merritt homeowners, and the devastation they are facing, as he nearly lost his home three years ago from a fire on Mt. Eneas.

“In the morning the wind shifted the fire and smoke back up the mountain and away from Peachland. If the wind hadn’t stopped, that would have been a real tough scenario, and we would have been impacted in a horrendous way,” Sotas said. “We had the Atmospheric River event, and they were all impacted.”

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