The Nappanee Street Department endured $400,000 in damage as a result of the tornado that struck Oct. 18, 2007. (WSBT photo)
Story Created:
Oct 30, 2007 at 5:05 PM EST
Story Updated:
Nov 8, 2007 at 10:18 PM EST
(WSBT) The tornado in Nappanee caused millions of dollars in damages for homeowners and businesses, and also left the city with a big bill.
Jennifer Tobey with Elkhart County Emergency Management says they have found 459 damaged buildings: 352 homes were damaged and 52 of those were destroyed; 107 businesses were damaged and 26 of those were destroyed.
As the rebuilding begins, the city is waiting to learn if it will get millions in federal help.
"The damage assessment part of it is not over yet,” explained Tobey. “We're still in the beginning phases of that."
Tobey has been collecting damage information for the County Emergency Management Office since the tornado hit on October 18.
The hope is that Nappanee will receive state and federal help for individuals who suffered a loss, as well as the city which suffered public losses.
“We're hopeful that we're going to get some individual assistance, but right now we're just not sure about the public [assistance],” said Tobey.
That includes damages to city property, as well as the initial expense incurred by the city for the response to the tornado and the cleanup that followed.
For instance, the city suffered $400,000 in damages at the Street Department alone.
“All of our buildings were either destroyed down there or heavily damaged,” said Wayne Scheumann of the Utility and Street Department. “The wastewater plant lost two lift stations. A couple of tornado sirens were in the path of that storm.”
Water meters were destroyed as well as a number of city-owned vehicles. There was also the extra cost incurred to clean up the city.
“I know that I had people on 12- and 16-hour shifts,” said Nappanee Clerk-Treasurer Kim Ingle. “And that was through five days.”
And there’s the added expense of contractors who helped clean up.
“Right now we’re looking at about $400,000 in expenses from the subcontractors,” said Ingle.
When final damage totals are in, that will be turned over to the state.
If the governor declares a state of emergency, that would be passed on to the president for a federal emergency declaration.
