There’s a Red Cross community resource center set up at the old Stinesville Elementary School to help meet the immediate needs of residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the storms.
Anyone can show up to get tarps, food, water, and other supplies. And the Red Cross will try to connect people with other resources available too– like counseling and health services, according to supervisor Carmen Piasecki.
“So for instance, it's not uncommon in the situation for people to have lost their glasses," she said. "Some people will have lost other medical equipment. We can assist them and try to figure out how they replace it. In some instances, we can give them vouchers to help them and get those glasses."
Piasecki said earlier this week was busy, with folks lining up for help and to learn what resources were available.
Read more: Sullivan begins the long road to recovery from devastating storm
The Red Cross works with the Monroe County Community Organizations Active in Disaster Relief, a network of people and agencies that volunteer time and resources during and after a local disaster.
Group chairperson Vinal Lee, said they’ve distributed a few hotel vouchers to households affected by storms. Between 15 to 30 families in Monroe County need some kind of case management and financial support for recovery.
Lee said since the storm that hit near Stinesville wasn’t as large as others, state financial aid is limited.
"So it really the the number of resources that are available are going to depend on our local agencies capacities."
In the first days of a disaster, Lees said Emergency Management conducts assessments and does initial intake for households.
Read more: Morgan County residents displaced by tornadoes can apply for a hotel voucher
Monroe County Emergency Management Deputy Director Justin Baker said 10 homes in Monroe County were destroyed by the storm.
The Solid Waste Management District set out large dumpsters in the area this week for residents to dispose of damaged housing and furniture.
Baker said the District is also picking up e-waste like TVs, propane tanks, and hazardous waste on Wolf Mountain Road, Texas Ridge Road, and county Line Road on Thursdays this month.
"We are highly thankful for all those partnerships that we had. That's the main thing that keeps us going during disasters," Baker said.
Monroe County Emergency Management will organize a multi-agency resource center at Stinesville Elementary on April 26, with different repair agencies interested in helping and more financial aid available.
Monroe County United Way has collected two thousand dollars so far for disaster relief, which will go to the two uninsured households affected by storms.
Lee said the Salvation Army will be there and will offer up to two thousand dollars to households, depending on their situation .
“For some of the our families, their recovery time is going to be relatively quick, right? A couple of months, a couple of weeks," Lee said. "For those who have completely destroyed homes you may be looking at years before they ever really feel like they've fully recovered from this disaster."
