THE EMPORIA GAZETTE
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Page 23
RE ADING DOESNâ T QUALIFY FOR SOME FEMA AID
government to get a water tower. Right now thereâs nothing to replace one of them. ... Thatâs where the FEMA money The Associated Press would come in use if we could get it.â The tornado, which rolled over KANSAS CITY, MO. â The night before Reading late Saturday, May 21, killed a mammoth tornado knocked out Jop- 53-year-old Don Chesmore, who was in lin, killing more than 150 people and a mobile home that flipped. The storm laying waste to a third of the southwest also caused about $1.15 million in damMissouri city, another tornado ripped age to homes in Reading, Watson said. through a small central Kansas town, She said 26 homes were destroyed, causing extensive damage and killing and another 30 homes had substantial one person. damage. But thatâs not enough to meet While millions of dollars from the FEMAâs threshold for the Individual AsFederal Emergency Management sistance Program, which requires the Agency are expected to flow into Jop- town to have had about 100 uninsured lin to help with the massive devastation homes destroyed, Watson said. there, the residents of tiny Reading, The state has also been evaluating Kan., population about 230, will not get whether Reading would be eligible for one type of FEMA disaster aid, and itâs FEMAâs Public Assistance Program for still unclear if the town will qualify for a its school, and other public buildings, second variety of FEMA assistance. which sustained about $1.13 million in Sharon Watson, spokeswoman for initial damages. Damage to the water the Kansas Division of Emergency Man- tower was not included in that initial agement, which partners with FEMA amount. Under the public program, to administer disaster aid, said Read- FEMA requires that the state, based on ing residents do not qualify for FEMAâs its population, have $3.4 million in damIndividual Assistance Program, which ages. Watson said 10 public would include money to buildings were destroyed, cover uninsured losses or âIâm just flat worn another four had substanexpenses for such things out. You get a lot tial damage and seven as temporary housing, of groups coming in more were damaged but home repair and rewere âinhabitable.â placement of household and shaking hands, She said the state has items. but none of them been evaluating damages It was still unclear actually help you. elsewhere that came in Friday if Reading would after the tornado and qualify for the agencyâs could be considered part Public Assistance Program, which would include money for of the same storm system, and could repairs to Readingâs damaged elemen- make the town eligible for the public astary school, other public buildings and sistance money. âNew damages have come in which infrastructure. âWe know the numbers are not will be applied, and we are continuing where they need to be for individual to get new information in which could assistance,â Watson said. âWe are still bring us to the level we need to ask for a evaluating the numbers for the public federal declaration,â she said. The Public Assistance Program assistance. ... We are close to the federal threshold, but more preliminary would include 75 percent of the uninsured costs from recovery and repair damage estimates are needed.â She said a âmain resourceâ for Read- for public buildings, non-profits and ing residents would be low-interest infrastructure. State and local govloans from the Small Business Admin- ernments then provide the remaining 25 percent. FEMAâs regional office in istration. Reading Mayor Lonnie Atchison, Kansas City did not return calls seekwhoâs retired from the U.S. Navy and ing comment. Atchison and his wife have been raiswhose own uninsured home was heavily damaged in the May 21 tornado, said ing their two grandchildren, but sent any FEMA assistance would be âtremen- them to live with relatives after the tornado severely damaged their home. For dously importantâ for the town. Apart from the school, which lost now, he and wife are living in a relativeâs its roof in the storm and also has water home in town. âIâm just flat worn out,â he said. âYou damage, a major concern is Readingâs water tower, he said. The 500,000-gal- get a lot of groups coming in and shaklon tower shifted a few feet in the EF-3 ing hands, but none of them actually tornado. Atchison said itâs unclear who help you. âIt seems to me like, oh, we hear would pay to replace the tower it if that the USDA, Commerce Department and becomes necessary. âWeâre scared to death about that,â things like that, say âWeâre here. You Atchison said. âWeâd have to go beg- need to apply for grants.â But God only ging, borrowing or stealing from the knows if youâll get them,â he said. EDITORâS NOTE: Originally published on June 13, 2011
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