Tornadoes

Temporary housing and foreclosure protection offered to displaced families

May 7, 2007 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to tornado-ravaged Kiowa County, Kansas and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following last week's devastating storms.    » read more »

List Yourself or Loved Ones on Safe And Well Website

WASHINGTON, Saturday, May 05, 2007 — Even as the Red Cross opens shelters and begins its response to the devastating Kansas tornado, the Safe and Well Web site is operating to assist those who cannot reach loved ones. Red Cross staff, volunteers, emergency response vehicles (ERVs) and mobile feeding units are mobilizing from Red Cross chapters across the Midwest to help their neighbors in need. Red Cross workers have set up emergency shelters in the affected Kansas counties, providing food, water and emotional.    » read more »

More than 400 men, women and children in Red Cross Shelters

WASHINGTON, Saturday, May 05, 2007 — A deadly tornado struck southwestern Kansas Friday night, destroying most of the town of Greensburg. As local officials continue search and rescue efforts in Greensburg, KS, the American Red Cross is preparing safe shelter, food and relief services for those affected by the tornado.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, May 7, 2007 – More than 300 members of the Kansas National Guard have been activated in response to a powerful tornado that almost destroyed the town of Greensburg, Kan., May 4.

Guard members are assisting in search-and-rescue efforts in the wake of the tornado, which was classified as an F-5, the highest rating given by the National Weather Service.

The tornado wiped out much of the small town, knocking out power, water, natural gas and communications. To date, 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries have been reported.    » read more »

08 May 2007 -- A city manager has said two more victims have been found in the rubble that was once the town of Greensburg, Kansas, raising the town's death toll to at least 10 from a recent tornado.

The city manager said Monday one survivor had also found in the rubble Sunday night, two days after a powerful tornado destroyed more than 90 percent of the buildings in Greensburg.

Residents returned to the ruins of their homes Monday to try and salvage some items, and rescue workers continue to search for survivors and victims.    » read more »

Morrison warns Kansas consumers to be wary following weather disaster

May 7, 2007 -- Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison today warned Kansans to be wary as they begin the clean-up and rebuilding process following the recent severe weather that damaged Kansas communities.

“My heart goes out to the hundreds of Kansans whose homes were devastated by the recent tornado and severe weather that struck Kansas,” Morrison said. “Unfortunately, the media coverage of a disaster area can often bring fraudulent contractors, price gouging and other con artists to a community.”    » read more »

May 7, 2007 -- With residents assessing the devastation caused by the storm system that leveled Greensburg, Kansas, and caused damage throughout the area, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has signed three executive orders to help facilitate state services for storm victims.

“We’re going to help our neighbors in Greensburg and the surrounding communities get back on their feet,” Sebelius said.

The three executive orders deal with banking services, duplicate records and disaster leave for state employees.    » read more »

Will Help with Search and Rescue Efforts Following Greensburg Tornado

05/07/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger announced today that 11 urban search and rescue personnel from California have been activated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and are headed to Greensburg, Kansas, as part of an Incident Support Team (IST) to help manage search and rescue operations in the wake of Friday’s tornado.    » read more »

May 6, 2007 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Kansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on May 4, 2007, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Kiowa County.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.    » read more »

06 May 2007 -- Officials in the central U.S. state of Kansas continued searching through debris Sunday for victims of a powerful tornado that devastated the town of Greensburg.

Emergency workers say more victims of the storm could still be located in the rubble of homes and businesses leveled by the tornado.

The Greensburg tornado killed at least eight people Friday. Two others have been killed by storms elsewhere in Kansas - one Friday in Stafford County and one Saturday in a separate storm not far from Greensburg.    » read more »

May 6, 2007 -- THE PRESIDENT: Our hearts are heavy for the loss of life in Greensburg, Kansas. A tornado devastated that community. It just basically wiped it out.

I spoke to the governor and Senator Pat Roberts about the extent of the devastation. They said to me, it's hard to describe how bad this community was hit.    » read more »

May 4, 2007 -- CORDELE, Ga. -- As registration closed Wednesday for federal disaster assistance on Georgia's tornadoes and severe storms of early March, 1,836 households have registered, according to officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA). More than $14.2 million in federal disaster assistance funds have been approved.    » read more »

May. 02, 2007 -- AUSTIN - Texas Governor Rick Perry today announced that a federal disaster declaration for Maverick, Moore and Swisher counties has been approved by President George W. Bush as a result of tornadoes and severe storms that have devastated those areas. The approval came Tuesday night.

“This disaster declaration means that much needed assistance is on its way to these counties,” Perry said. “This is welcome news to these communities who can now begin rebuilding their homes and businesses.”    » read more »

Price gouging, contractor, charity ploys are common in the aftermath of a storm

April 26, 2007 -- EAGLE PASS – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today warned residents of Maverick County and other border communities to be wary of price gouging and fraudulent attempts to bilk homeowners and other consumers in the aftermath of Tuesday’s damaging tornadoes.    » read more »

Total State Assistance Now Totals $902,000

April 19, 2007 -- CARUTHERSVILLE– Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today announced $500,000 to help the City of Caruthersville make needed infrastructure repairs in response to a violent tornado that swept through the area last year destroying half of the Southeast Missouri community.

This brings the total state assistance to Caruthersville to $902,000.    » read more »