The Monroe County Emergency Management Agency is in the middle of cleaning up debris from the May tornado.
An EF2 tornado caused significant damage to homes and trees throughout south-central Indiana, instigating a months-long cleanup process.
Justin Baker, deputy director of the agency, said they’ve almost finished collecting debris from the Clear Creek area, which got hit the hardest. A few addresses on the west side of town by the Harmony Cemetery still have debris.
“We have some addresses of the elderly or people that weren't able to cut up trees,” he said, “So we've been working with them and been cutting up the trees and hauling it to designated spots.”
Read more: Monroe County assessing damage, unlikely to get FEMA funding
Baker said he’s been working with various volunteer organizations, such as Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, to help clean up debris. With their help, weather permitting, he expects to complete debris cleanup by the end of July or early August.
“It just depends on how much rain we get and how many more storms we get, too,” he said. “That's the thing with volunteer organizations, they don't have a strict schedule, so it's just whenever they can come out and whenever they have the personnel. So, patience is key.”
Read more: Deadlines approaching for storm damage relief
Cost estimates are underway, Baker said. The county council will cover the cost of dumpsters rented for two weeks when cleanup began. The county did not receive funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency; he said those funds are typically reserved for hurricanes and severe storms that impact multiple areas at once. Residents could instead apply for a disaster loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration to help pay for physical damage. The loan will be available online until July 29.
To prepare for future storms, Baker said he is working on partnerships with organizations and growing their volunteer base. He recommends citizens have multiple ways to receive weather alerts and keep nonperishable food items and cash on hand.
