By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH Indiana Correspondent
HENRYVILLE, Ind. — Farmers and those who live in rural areas hit hard by tornados in early March still need help with everything from repairing fences to feeding their animals, the executive director of the Fellowship of Christian Farmers, International (FCFI) said last week.
The organization has set up a base camp at the Methodist Church in Henryville, one of the areas that suffered severe damage from the March 2 twisters, said Dennis Schlagel. “Farmers are tough-minded and won’t always tell us when they need help,” Schlagel noted, adding that while response has been strong, much work remains.
The Scottsburg, Ind., FFA chapter has been collecting hay for farmers in the region, and later in April, a group of 80 Crawfordsville FFA members will spend a day working in the area, he said. In Clark County, volunteers recently spent time helping rebuild a local farmer’s fences and making sure he had plenty of hay for his animals.
Farmers or others with expertise running loaders or chain saws are especially needed, Schlagel stated. A great deal of fencing needs to be repaired or replaced, and some areas are still dealing with downed trees, he said.
The FCFI base camp includes a shower trailer and a motor coach for lodging.
FCFI asks those interested in participating in the “Henryville, Indiana, Super Cell Tornado Relief” campaign to register first. To register, email fellowship@fcfi.org or call 309-365-8710.
Aid deadline approaching
The deadline for residents of Clark, Jefferson, Ripley, Scott, Warrick and Washington counties, Ind., to apply for federal storm recovery assistance is May 8, according to the office of state Rep. Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville).
Registration is available online at www.Disaster Assistance.gov or by smart phone or tablet at m.fema.gov
Registration is also available over the phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or, for the speech or hearing impaired, TTY 800-462-7585. Phone lines are open daily from 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
To register, applicants will need their Social Security number, current and pre-disaster addresses, insurance information, telephone contact information, total household annual income and bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is also making low-interest disaster loan applications available to qualifying homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofits. For more information, call 800-659-2955, or for the hearing impaired, 800-877-8339, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit www.sba.gov |
