Efforts to recover from the flooding caused by Friday's torrential remnants of Hurricane Ivan will continue for weeks, even months. For some people, memories of the devastation caused by the flood waters in Harmony, Evans City, Renfrew, Valencia, Freeport and other parts of Butler County, will last a lifetime - but so will the kindness of friends, neighbors and strangers.

Though something of a cliche, the events of the past several days has demonstrated that natural disasters, such as Friday's flooding, brings out the best in people.

During the worst of the flooding, volunteer firefighters and other rescue workers put themselves at risk to help people threatened by rising flood waters. Now that rescue workers' are gone, organized volunteer efforts by the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, several United Way agencies and various churches have been visible since Saturday morning.

Butler County volunteers with the American Red Cross have been joined by volunteers from other parts of the country in their efforts to assist flood victims. Neighbors are helping neighbors and friends are helping friends by offering whatever assistance they can

More than a few flood victims and volunteers alike have observed that such a struggle brings out the best in people.

Churches in affected areas pitched in by offering the use of their facilities and scores of parishioners have been helping where needed.

Local businesses are stepping in with assistance, collecting and distributing cleaning supplies, clothing, appliances to help people replace what was destroyed by the flood waters.

In Butler, a body shop that sustained flood damage saw other small-business owners and even the owner of a competitor come by to help. Even a shop customer, seeing the damage at the shop showed up to help with the clean up and help the owner get back on his feet. Compassion and comradery were on the minds of those people, not competition or business.

Friends and strangers in Harmony, Evans City and Renfrew have helped with the messy clean up by digging out mud, hosing down salvageable items, loading furniture, clothing and appliances turned to garbage by the muddy flood waters.

Even small things, like taking a friend's soiled-but-not-destroyed clothing and dishes and silverware home to be washed, is a way of helping flood victims get their lives back to normal more quickly.

Other people in hard hit parts of the county have been prepared meals for flood victims and clean-up volunteers.

The floodwaters reached levels not seen for decades - if ever. The swiftly rising water produced tragic results across many communities, literally taking away everything that some people owned.

Yet among the volunteers and victims there is an unmistakable spirit of optimism, determination and love.

Recovery will take time and the painful memories of Hurricane Ivan will linger for years. But along with those dark thoughts will be the memories of the kindness and compassion shown by friends and strangers who came to offer help in any way they could.

- J.L.W.III