Kansas Tornado Relief Efforts Turn Toward Housing

With debris cleanup now in its second week, immediate relief efforts for Kansas tornado victims have been scaled back as disaster help moves into the next stage.

The Small Business Administration is taking applications for low-interest federal loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit groups whose property was damaged or destroyed by the April 14 storms. The SBA loans are available in Sedgwick, Butler, Cowley, Harvey, Kingman, Reno and Sumner counties.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the American Red Cross, Midway-Kansas Chapter, has closed its shelter and fixed feeding site.

“We are working with the people who were affected to find more immediate shelter for them, more transitional and long-term housing,” said James Williams, a Red Cross spokesman. “Now we want to encourage people who have been affected to visit us at the Oaklawn Activity Center where we have caseworkers who will listen to their needs and concerns and put them on a clear path to rebuilding their life and getting back to normal.”

Cindy Wood is among the affected Wichita residents. The tornado ripped away the rented mobile home she lived in with her three children and parents in the Pinaire Mobile Home Park.

“It is bumpy right now,” she said. “Any place I try and rent is completely out of our price range. Once I stop cleaning up, I’ve got to go to the Salvation Army to see what they can do to help. The Red Cross gave me a little bit to help with replacing Mom and Dad’s meds.”

The Salvation Army is also no longer serving hot meals in the area, but has a mobile kitchen traveling through neighborhoods that provides sandwiches, water and snacks for volunteers.

“We have gone into another phase because people — those that still have their homes — have their utilities back on,” said Major Douglas Rowland, city commander for the Salvation Army. “The immediate needs have been met, and now we look at the longer term.”