Disaster Assistance Available to Residents
Last updated Saturday, January 12, 2008 7:01 PM CST in News
By Melissa Sherman
THE MORNING NEWS
BENTONVILLE -- Residents want to pick up the remains of Monday night's storm strewed across their yard but even that comes with a price some cannot afford.
Ron DeShields' home was thrown nearly 150 feet and then exploded after strong winds swept over Gann Ridge Road in Garfield during the storm.
DeShields' family lost everything but a few pairs of clothing. DeShields said he would like to have a container at his residence to pile debris in but companies wanted upwards of $500 and wouldn't work with him on a payment plan, he said.
DeShields and his family attended the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management information session Saturday at the Bentonville Public Library. They learned what assistance they could qualify for and state officials assisted in filling out their forms. Fourteen families attended the Saturday session.
"Once you're down at the bottom everything is up from there," DeShields said.
DeShields said he's not really the kind of person to go around asking for money but was thankful the information session was available for him to ask questions about assistance.
Between 150 to 200 homes were reported damaged as a result of the storm, according to previous reports.
Three tornados were confirmed by radar data, weather spotters and ground surveys. A brief tornado was reported two miles south of Hiwasse, 4 miles southwest of Watts, Okla., and 4 miles east of Centerton.
Straight-line wind around 60 mph was confirmed throughout northern Benton County.
DeShields and his family were not at home that night but returned Tuesday morning to find their home and debris scattered across their yard.
"It's a disaster out there," DeShields said.
Carol Walton, public assistance coordinator for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, said residents affected by the storms could qualify for two different programs.
The first program is a temporary housing assistance provided by the department for a residence when the primary home is uninhabitable or destroyed. Residents who have insurance can still apply for the program but can't have additional living expenses covered in their policy, Walton said.
Renters can qualify for up to a month of housing assistance whereas homeowners may qualify up to three months of housing assistance.
Once the application is completed, residents should hear back from the department in five to 10 business days. The process may take longer if the resident has insurance since the department has to verify that, Walton said.
If a resident receives an approval letter for assistance, the Department of Finance and Administration will issue a check to the resident within three to five business days, Walton said.
The second program offered is an individual or family grant which can cover costs to repair a residence, vehicle, replace lost possessions or cover medical costs related to the storm, Walton said.
The Department of Human Services gives up to $3,982 to a family or individual to cover the repair costs. Eligible residents must declare their primary residence or vehicle was damaged.
Residents don't have to pay back the department for the assistance, Walton said. When residents are interviewed by the department for the grant they'll have to provide an estimate for repair of the residence or vehicle and personal property.
The only piece of paperwork needed to start the process is identification to verify the residence, Walton said.
Amber Luper didn't lose her home on Gann Ridge Road, but the family's hayshed, shop and fences were damaged in the storm. Luper said she doesn't have an estimate on how much repairs will cost but hopes to get assistance soon.
Benton County set up a debris container on their street but it's already full, Luper said.
Luper's mother-in-law, Linda, also lives on Gann Ridge Road and pointed to photographs of plywood jutting out of her house. Linda Luper also applied for assistance and estimated the damage to her house is approximately $30,000.
It's the first time the Lupers have been through the process of filling out forms for storm assistance. Luper said she'd thought officials could have done more sooner, especially with a cold weekend in the forecast.
Infotext
Disaster Assistance
Benton County homeowners or renters affected by Tuesday's storm can apply for temporary housing assistance, as well as an individual or family grant until Jan. 28.
Residents can contact the departments Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Offices will be closed Jan. 21 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
* Temporary Housing Assistance is eligible for residents whose primary residence was damaged or made uninhabitable because of the storm. Residents can contact the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management toll free number at (877) 828-3362.
* Individual & Family Grant Program is eligible to residents with uninsured losses to help with repairs or replacement of the primary residence or vehicles. The grant also covers replacement of personal property and assistance with certain medical costs. Residents can contact the Department of Human Services at 273-9011.
Source: Staff Reports
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