Nappanee Awaits Federal Aid; State Of Emergency Lifted
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
Elkhart County Emergency Management Director Jennifer Tobey said officials lifted the city's declaration of emergency Monday night and are waiting to hear if the city is eligible for federal disaster aid. A damage assessment team from the Department of Homeland Security is expected to arrive in Nappanee next week.[[In-content Ad]]Today, Tobey said the damage count was up to 199 homes and 53 businesses damaged by the EF3 tornado.
"We're still documenting homes that have damage," she said. "And we're starting all the procedures we need to start to pursue federal aid."
If federal aid is sent to help rebuild Nappanee, Kosciusko and Marshall counties, also hit by the tornado, will qualify, as contiguous counties, for federal assistance. Tobey said she is working with Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock and Marshall County Emergency Management Director Clyde Avery to coordinate efforts.
"A tornado doesn't stay in just one county," Tobey said. "We've already come together as a team and are working as a team to make sure that all homes that were damaged are included."
To report tornado damage in Nappanee, call 574-773-4111; in Kosciusko County, call 574-267-7888.
Officials lifted Nappanee's declaration of emergency Monday night. Tobey said almost all power, with the exception of several individual homes, has been restored to the city, and almost all the city's roads have been reopened. The only road Tobey said may remain closed today is Jackson Street. The street will be reopened tonight so area residents can return to their homes.
Cleanup also continues to move forward with volunteers working to clear debris left by the storm.
"We are at least 200 percent ahead of schedule with the cleanup," said Tobey. "The community has been fantastic. It has been a non-stop process."
Tobey said the response of area volunteers helped accelerate the city's progress from emergency phase to recovery phase.
"It just means that we're actually starting to get back to normal," she said.
Elkhart County Emergency Management Director Jennifer Tobey said officials lifted the city's declaration of emergency Monday night and are waiting to hear if the city is eligible for federal disaster aid. A damage assessment team from the Department of Homeland Security is expected to arrive in Nappanee next week.[[In-content Ad]]Today, Tobey said the damage count was up to 199 homes and 53 businesses damaged by the EF3 tornado.
"We're still documenting homes that have damage," she said. "And we're starting all the procedures we need to start to pursue federal aid."
If federal aid is sent to help rebuild Nappanee, Kosciusko and Marshall counties, also hit by the tornado, will qualify, as contiguous counties, for federal assistance. Tobey said she is working with Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock and Marshall County Emergency Management Director Clyde Avery to coordinate efforts.
"A tornado doesn't stay in just one county," Tobey said. "We've already come together as a team and are working as a team to make sure that all homes that were damaged are included."
To report tornado damage in Nappanee, call 574-773-4111; in Kosciusko County, call 574-267-7888.
Officials lifted Nappanee's declaration of emergency Monday night. Tobey said almost all power, with the exception of several individual homes, has been restored to the city, and almost all the city's roads have been reopened. The only road Tobey said may remain closed today is Jackson Street. The street will be reopened tonight so area residents can return to their homes.
Cleanup also continues to move forward with volunteers working to clear debris left by the storm.
"We are at least 200 percent ahead of schedule with the cleanup," said Tobey. "The community has been fantastic. It has been a non-stop process."
Tobey said the response of area volunteers helped accelerate the city's progress from emergency phase to recovery phase.
"It just means that we're actually starting to get back to normal," she said.
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