The immediate danger from the storms and floods that swept the state this spring and summer might be over, but the suffering continues.

Many Iowans are dealing with substantial losses, the type that won't be covered by insurance or even government relief programs.

Readers who see my stories about federal flood relief dollars coming to Iowa call to ask if they might qualify for some of that money, sharing stories about their losses.

Some of these people are elderly and don't have family members near to help them clean up properties or remove debris.

It's frustrating to have to tell them that I don't know and give them another government phone number or assistance program to call.

For many flood and storm victims, their problems are beginning to mount, between dealing with insurance companies and government officials and the general stress of their circumstances.

As those concerns pile up, state mental health officials are urging Iowans to seek crisis counseling. But many who have suffered extensive turmoil in their lives are reluctant to seek help, they said.

State officials are urging Iowa flood victims to be less self-reliant.

"We've had cases where Mr. Smith says he is doing fine, but that Mr. Jones two doors down really needs help. So we go to Mr. Jones and he says he's OK, but that we should really look in on Mr. Smith," said Allen Parks, a mental health official with the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Our Midwestern culture tells us to keep our hurt under wraps. We're a stoic people who are sometimes ashamed to ask for help, even when we need it most.

But we're also the type that lends a helping hand to those in need, and plenty are in need of help now.

Iowans with a generous spirit have many options for helping those affected by flooding and storms. They could help friends and neighbors restore their homes, or help elderly flood victims with the mounds of paperwork they'll face to claim disaster losses.

Animal lovers could serve as foster parents for families who have had to give up their pets temporarily until they find a stable living situation. They could also adopt one of the overwhelming number of animals that have been brought to shelters across Iowa this summer.

Donations to food banks can help those in need who have lost jobs or their homes from flooding. Disaster food benefits last for only one month for the close to 35,000 Iowans that have received them.

DHS spokesman Roger Munns said they have heard anecdotally that food banks around the state are running low as food prices rise.

"Benefits that people get, either from charity or government programs, are not going as far as they used to because of higher food prices and higher transportation prices," Munns said.

Those who would rather donate money can give to one of the charitable funds that will keep those dollars in Iowa.

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The state's official flood site, Flood2008.Iowa.gov, has an exhaustive list of resources for those who need assistance or those who want to give.

One thing that set Iowa apart from other national disasters was the way its citizens and elected officials pulled together to contain the damage.

But Iowans can't forget that many of their brothers and sisters still need help and will need it long after the floods of 2008 fade from the headlines.