Area counties to get federal aid

The level of destruction and death tornadoes caused in the state this week are worse than anything he's seen in 30 years of touring Missouri storm disasters, U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., said Friday.

After viewing counties near Kansas City and around Pierce City in southwest Missouri by helicopter Friday, Bond and U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., brought news to hard-hit Jackson that Cape Girardeau and Jefferson counties have been added to the list of those in the state already declared federal disaster areas eligible for public and individual assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Administration and the Small Business Administration. In addition, the contiguous counties -- including Scott, Stoddard, Bollinger and Perry -- are now eligible for individual assistance.

In all, 50 Missouri counties are eligible for federal aid that includes up to $5,000 immediately available for families and individuals due to damage or injuries from the storms. Cape Girardeau is among 16 counties eligible for debris removal and repairs to government buildings.

The number of structures damaged or destroyed by Tuesday night's F3 tornado is currently at 198, most of them in Jackson. Officials say reports are starting to come in about buildings damaged elsewhere in the county.

'No whining'

Bond, Talent and FEMA and SBA representatives spoke at a news conference attended by many local officials Friday at Jackson City Hall. They had just come from Platte and Clay counties in the Kansas City area and from Pierce City, a devastated small town planning to rebuild.

"Nobody is moaning and whining," Bond said.

FEMA and the SBA have a good track record in helping communities that have suffered disasters, Talent said.

"I am confident you will come back from this strong," Talent said. "Vital communities usually do."

Dick Hainje, FEMA's regional administrator, said the agency has set up a field office in Springfield. Vic Moerbe, the Fort Worth, Texas-based officer in charge of the SBA's Disaster Relief Operation, said the agency can offer loans with 2.8 percent interest to homeowners and renters over 30 years and loans with 2.9 percent interest to businesses, also over 30 years.

"We try to put you back where you were," Moerbe said.

Jackson officials expect a large number of volunteers will help out city crews today. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department parking lot beginning at 8 a.m., bringing chain saws and other equipment, including tractors and Brush Hogs.

'Hamburger Hill'

Some have begun referring to the city's Woodland Drive area as "Hamburger Hill" because of the heavy damage there. Sightseers parking along the streets have caused some problems for emergency vehicles, public works director Rodney Bollinger said.

The city has set up a shuttle service for people who may be visiting the Woodland Drive area this Mother's Day weekend. Anyone who does not expect to park off-street is asked to park in the lot at the Shawnee Church of Christ on Shawnee Boulevard. Shuttles provided by the county will operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.

Bollinger said exhausted city workers will take a day of rest on Sunday, except for those working on restoring electricity to the small number of users still without power.

Fire chief Brad Golden praised the organizations and government entities that have pitched in. The city of Cape Girardeau has contributed police officers, heavy trucks and backhoes to help with the cleanup. That has been occurring since the night the tornado struck.

The American Red Cross is helping 40 families by providing food and housing in motels. Executive director Mary Burton said the next step will put those who need it into permanent housing, providing the first month's rent and deposit. A fund also is available for purchasing appliances. The Salvation Army is housing 15 families.

Alderwoman Val Tuschoff said the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Teen Challenge have been important in helping with Jackson's recovery. But she also told of talking to a young couple working on the twisted trees in a neighbor's yard with a new chain saw. "It looked to me like they bought it for this," she said.

The city's annual spring cleanup begins next week, but Bollinger estimated it may take up to four weeks to get rid of all the debris.

He cautioned that some people who are not city-licensed contractors have been knocking on doors offering to do repair work. Only those contractors with a city license are allowed to work in Jackson.

Helping police, fire

Penzel Construction is working on repairs to the police and fire station.

Phil Penzel, the president of the company and also an alderman, said the company is working with the Missouri Rural Services Corporation Insurance Company, and no tax dollars will be spent for the repairs.

"We got the roof secured and if we had more rain, it shouldn't damage things further," Penzel said. "The windows are secured and we've started to tear up the floor and remove potential mold-causing areas."

Because mold is now considered hazardous material like asbestos, everything wet will have to be removed and replaced, Penzel said.

"The drywall is wet, the insulation is still wet and the suspended ceiling is still dripping," he said.

The roof fix is only temporary, he added. It will be a few weeks before the roof will be permanently repaired.

Cape Girardeau County also has some destruction to deal with. A low-water bridge on Apple Creek east of Appleton has buckled and is closed. County Commissioner Larry Bock said the bridge probably will be replaced once the water goes down.

Bond said $64 million in federal Department of Housing and Urban Development funds are being delivered to the state on an accelerated basis and that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman has been asked to make a supplemental allocation to the Emergency Conservation Program Tornado Fund to help farmers.

Staff writer Bob Miller contributed to this report.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

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