NAPPANEE - Governmental and private groups are working to help those who lost jobs or homes get back on their feet after the EF-3 strength tornado that hit Nappanee and the surrounding area Oct. 18.
According to a recent survey by the Nappanee Chamber of Commerce, 69 area businesses were damaged by the tornado. Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson's office issued a press release Wednesday announcing that a team from Indiana Department of Workforce Development's WorkOne office will hold an informational meeting Friday for those who have lost their job or are not working due to the tornado .The meeting is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Nappanee Public Library, 157 N. Main St.
According to the release, WorkOne also will send an unemployment team to Nappanee next week to assist individuals with filing unemployment claims and to provide career-related counseling services. The sessions are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday at the library.
Ken Locke, community ministries director of the Kosciusko County Salvation Army, said Wednesday his organization had begun hearing from those whose jobs were affected by the tornado. Locke said most of the people he heard from were still reporting to work, but their employers' facilities were so damaged by the storm, there was no work to be done.
Locke said the Kosciusko County Salvation Army is offering assistance to those without work as a result of the tornado.
"We're helping Kosciusko County residents with rent assistance, gas vouchers and food," he said. "To get help, they must show proof of residency in Kosciusko County."
Locke said they also must show proof that they worked at one of the businesses destroyed by the tornado.
Those in need should call 574-267-5361, Ext. 102. Elkhart County residents call the Elkhart County Salvation Army, 574-970-0088.
To help with the Kosciusko County Salvation Army's efforts, donations can be made to the Nappanee Tornado Fund at any Lake City Bank.
A committee of representatives from local churches, non-profits and disaster relief organizations created a fund to help those displaced or in need due to the tornado. Terry Tyler, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Nappanee, said all donations to the Nappanee Tornado Victims Assistance fund will be used to help meet the unmet needs of people who are uninsured or underinsured and have lost their home as a result of the tornado.
"Any unmet need that we run across as a result of the tornado, we're going to try to address," said Tyler.
Donations can be made to the fund in three ways. Donors may mail checks made out to Nappanee Tornado Victims Assistance P.O. Box 29, Nappanee IN, 46550; make donations at Lake City Bank in Nappanee; or donate via VISA or MasterCard at the Elkhart County Community Foundation Web site, elkhartccf.org
According to a press release from the Nappanee Clerk's Office, John Kissling of the Indiana Department of Insurance will be at the Nappanee Municipal Center, 300 W. Lincoln St., Friday to answer victims' questions regarding insurance policies and coverage. Kissling will be at the municipal center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Heckaman Homes was not one of the businesses damaged in the storm. The local builder announced Wednesday they will give immediate attention to homes in the area that need to be rebuilt.
Larry Lant, Heckaman vice president of sales, said Heckaman will focus on houses that were destroyed and need to be completely rebuilt rather than those that need repaired.
"It's going to take a while for people to get their insurances around," Lant said. But, he said, when they do, his company will do their best to see that the delays stop there.
"We'll put those houses on the schedule ahead of everything else," said Lant, "that way we can shorten the time frame of how long it takes them to rebuild."
For more information, call 574-773-4167 or 574-862-2682.
