Volunteers needed as tornado cleanup looks to take next step

Dennis Anderson stood on a streetcorner in Greenfield Tuesday morning telling the newspaper that much work has been done to clean up Greenfield in the last six weeks or so — he estimates maybe 80% of cleanup has been done — but more volunteers are needed to help the community in move farther along.

Anderson is a domestic director for the non-profit GoServ Global. The group has been here since a little more than a week after the tornado. They have heavy equipment that allows them to specialize in helping residents clean up debris following disasters.

“As Greenfield has learned, it takes a lot of people to clean up after a disaster like this, so we’re here lending a hand,” Anderson said. “Greenfield has done a phenomenal job of neighbor helping neighbor, getting it done. It’s one of the most organized disasters I’ve seen. Dealing with what [has happened] the way Greenfield has is remarkable and they’ve done a very, very good job.”

During a community meeting about disaster relief on Sunday night at Nodaway Valley High School, Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Jeremy Cooper outlined a big push officials are making to encourage volunteerism over the next week as cleanup marches on and in some cases, rebuilding has begun. The number to call for assistance from volunteers is 913-961-4717. The volunteer check-in is at the temporary fire station across Highway 25 from the ink plant north of Cardinal IG.

“If you have anything you’re needing done, whether it’s your house needing demo’d or your car cleaned up, we’re going to be pulling in as many volunteers as we can daily,” Cooper said. “We’re going to start combing through the neighborhoods in the disaster area. If you see a group of people out there, that’s what we’re doing.”

Cooper asked that residents who are still cleaning up sort debris material as they pile it.

Cooper shared that FEMA has been able to assist 97 eligible applicants through the individual household program to the tune of over $500,000. They have helped 20 eligible applicants with temporary housing, totaling almost $180,000. Other needs have been helped with for 97 eligible applicants in the amount of over $338,000.

Current hours for the Disaster Recovery Center at Nodaway Valley Elementary School are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The application deadline for FEMA has been extended to Aug. 23. Cooper said it will be much harder for residents to receive funding if they have not begun their application by then. Staff are available at the elementary school to help residents who need assistance applying.