It’s been year since a devastating tornado event occurred in Appomattox County. Nick Gilmore gives us this report on how the county has responded in the year that has passed and why the future looks bright.
Last February, a tornado touched down in Appomattox County, claiming one life and causing an estimated $30 million in damage in Appomattox and nearby Essex County. The event prompted Governor Terry McAuliffe to apply for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“A few weeks after our submission they did respond to us and said that our request for assistance was denied…”
Amanda Reidelbach is with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
“…because they felt there was enough assistance or support from the Commonwealth as well as the voluntary sector to support those who were not able to recover, repair their homes and find additional or different housing.”
Following a denied repeal to that decision, the county got to work. The state’s Department of Emergency Management helped establish a long-term recovery team and coordinated efforts to help rebuild by various different organizations.
Susan Adams is a county administrator. She says the county would not be where it is today had it not been for a strong team effort.
“You know at times like this is when you realize you live in a community and a community is all the people that reached out and helped each other and the people that came and helped within our community.”
The county also recently received nearly $880,000 in federal community development grants to fund housing rehabilitation and reconstruction projects and to finish removing tree stumps left by the storm.