Water levels have receded on the Ohio River bank by the Lafayette Hotel. As of 6 p.m. Sunday, the river was measured as 27.83 feet by the National Weather Service at the Marietta pumphouse. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)

MARIETTA — Signs of life are coming back to Marietta as store owners move back into their shops on Front Street after last week’s flooding.

Penny Moore, owner of Tabletop Puzzles & Games was moving items back into 106 Front St. She said the main store didn’t receive any damage, only the basement. She said she moved all items out of the store Wednesday and moved back in Sunday.

“We’ve had a lot of help from friends, strangers, and volunteers,” she said.

However, Charlie Clay of Dad’s Primitive Workbench said the flood was “devastating” to him and his co-owner and wife Stephanie because of water damage in the back room and showroom.

“We had four inches of water in our back room and two inches in our showroom. We had just put new carpet in our showroom in December. We also had received new inventory a day or two before,” he said.

City of Marietta work crews used backhoes, dump trucks, water spray trucks and giant brushes to clean the mud off Virginia Street Saturday afternoon. The retreating Ohio and Muskingum rivers left streets all over town covered in a layer of slick mud. (Photo by Art Smith)

Charlie Clay said between the damage to the store’s inside and having to be closed for a week due to flooding, the store has taken a financial hit. However, he also said he was appreciative of the City of Marietta for helping store owners.

“The City of Marietta gets all of my flowers. They worked so hard for our blocks. Once we had water in the building, they brought a pump and worked it all night,” he said.

Charlie Clay said he was also impressed by the number of volunteers who offered to help while he and Stephanie were clearing out the store Tuesday in preparation for the flood.

“It’s insane how many people showed up to help. We had enough help between our staff and contractors, but we felt supported,” he said.

Charlie Clay said stores such as Dad’s Primitive Workbench don’t just need support during disasters like floods. Communities can show their support in other ways.

Penny Moore, in a ballcap, owner of Tabletop Puzzles & Games, and employees move store items out of a U-Haul back into the 106 Front St. location. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)

“When these stores are open, please show up for them,” he said. “If you can’t afford to, it’s absolutely free to share a social media post letting people know stores are open.”

Local volunteers were also giving out supplies Saturday to assist anyone affected by the flood. Belpre Church of Christ helped community members by giving out flood supplies from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Items included clothing, cleaning supplies, food boxes and supplies for infants.

The church initially received $80,000 worth of supplies from the Church of Christ disaster center in Tennessee. They gave some to police and fire departments in Marietta, Belpre, and Reno for distribution Friday. As of Saturday afternoon, Jim Nolen, a director at the Belpre Church of Christ estimated they had given out supplies to help 300 families.

Nolen said there are still left over supplies. Those interested can call the church Monday and a secretary will put them in touch with someone for pickup.

Kristen Hainkel can be contacted at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com

City of Marietta work crews used backhoes, dump trucks, water spray trucks and giant brushes to clean the mud off Virginia Street Saturday afternoon. The retreating Ohio and Muskingum rivers left streets all over town covered in a layer of slick mud. (Photo by Art Smith)

Gretchen Dowler can be contacted at gdowler@newsandsentinel.com