Everybody knows about the huge F-5 tornado that all but obliterated the Missouri town of Joplin two weeks ago, but less newsworthy was the F-3 tornado that ripped through the town of Reading, KS the night before, causing considerable damage and killing one person.
So far Joplin has received millions of dollars from Federal Emergency Management to assist with recovery and repair efforts. The residents of Reading, KS, however, have so far been denied any FEMA help at all, and so far it is unclear as to whether or not the tiny community of 230 people will qualify for any sort of federal disaster assistance.
A spokesperson for the Kansas division of FEMA issued a statement saying that the town of Reading simply does not qualify for FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program, which would help provide funds for uninsured losses, temporary housing, home repair, or replacement of damaged household items.
The town may be eligible for a secondary program, the Public Assistance Program, which would provide for repairs to Reading’s elementary school that was damaged by the storm, as well as other public buildings or damaged infrastructure.
FEMA said that the town’s preliminary damage estimates did not meet the required threshold for federal assistance, and that the most likely source for help would be from low interest loans provided by the Small Business Administration.
Reading Mayor Lonnie Atchison said that FEMA assistance would be tremendously important for the town’s recovery.
Besides the school, which lost its roof in the storm resulting in considerable water damage, another major concern is the community’s water tower. The tornado managed to shift the 500,000 gallon tower a few feet, and the entire structure may have to be replaced. No one is quite sure who would pay to replace the tower if federal funds are not available.
Unlike the Joplin storm, which killed 134 people and injured dozens more, only one person was killed in the Reading tornado. 53 year old Don Chesmore died when the mobile home he was in flipped over. In addition, the storm caused $1.5 million in damages, destroying 26 homes and damaging another 30. FEMA requires a minimum of 100 uninsured homes destroyed before aid can be released.
Public facilities suffering $1.3 million in damage, far short of FEMA’s $3.4 million requirement. 10 buildings were destroyed, another 4 severely damaged, and seven damaged but still safe for human occupancy.
FEMA has also said that additional storm damage reports continue to come in, which may be a result of the same storm system. In that case, the damage estimates may eventually be high enough to qualify for federal aid. But it has been a long two weeks coming, especially for residents who have lost everything.
Mayor Atchison said of the problem, “I'm just flat worn out. You get a lot of groups coming in and shaking hands, but none of them actually help you. It seems to me like, oh, we hear the USDA, Commerce Department and things like that say, 'We're here. You need to apply for grants.' But God only knows if you'll get them.”
Water Damage Local.com provides repair and restoration services for homes and communities damaged by water, fire, or other disasters. They provide 24/7 service, with a full staff of trained technicians proficient on the latest water damage repair equipment and procedures, as well as offer a complete range of water removal mservices designed to return your property to its pre-loss condition.
If your home has suffered damage as a result of the recent storms, contact Water Damage Local.com immediately.
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