Tornado

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced today that Harveyville, a community of almost 300 people in Wabaunsee County, has received a $245, 747 Urgent Need Grant, which is funding available within the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The funding will be used to replace or repair storm damaged items related to the community's wastewater treatment system, including replacing the pump house building, alarm dialer and lagoon rip rap, as well as repairing the lagoon perimeter fencing and pump house security fencing.

It was originally scheduled for after the April 14 tornado hit the Oaklawn area of Sedgwick County. Several residents turned out for the delayed Severe Weather Safety Class at the Oaklawn Community Center Thursday night. The classes are developed by the National Weather Service and presented by Sedgwick County Emergency Management. Hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed by the tornado that swept through Oaklawn and southeast Wichita that Saturday night nearly a month ago.

Wichita City Council members got an update on the extent of damage the city suffered during the April 14th tornado. Click here to see storm damage. Sedgwick county took the hardest hit in the storm, but the city's sewer treatment plant lost a roof, sustained fence damage and the city has cleaned up extensive tree debris. Total costs for the city are more than $1.3 million so far, but that number is expected to rise. City leaders hope to qualify for federal aid, which could reimburse up to 85% of those costs.

Its been more than two weeks since tornadoes touched down in Southeast Wichita, but the cleanup continues and costs are adding up. Click here to see strom damage. Wichita wasn't hit as hard as Sedgwick County, but both could take a hit to their budgets. The roof at the city's sewer treatment plant along Hydraulic still remains tattered. That area was likely hit first when the tornado touched down April 14th. The storm then moved northeast to the Oaklawn area. But the sewer treatment plant isn't where the city is spending the most on cleanup.

Local food trucks team up with the Thunder hockey team to raise money for Wichita's tornado victims. Hundreds of people turned out to Sunday's tailgating party at the Wichita Ice Center. Fans were encouraged to bring canned goods which will go to the Red Cross. Local food trucks were at the tailgating party as well. They will donate at least 15% of their profits from the tailgate party to Wichita's United Way. The cans and money will go to those affected by the tornadoes.

If you heard tornado sirens in Wichita this morning, there is nothing to worry about. Sedgwick County emergency dispatchers say it was just a malfunction.  There is no current threat of severe weather.  The cause of the malfunction is not known. 

No one will soon forget the night of nearly a hundred tornadoes. Clean-up still continues in Wichita and across the state.  There were no deaths in Kansas April 14th.  Experts say that's mainly because people had plenty of warning and found a safe place. Since the stormy night, shelter builders have seen a spike in business.  Dale Zogleman of Protection Shelters says the volume of calls and emails he received the first week was "insane". "People that were on the fence have decided we need to something because everybody deserves a safe place to go," Zogleman said.

Government assistance is available to people affected by last week's tornadoes. The Small Business Administration is offering qualifying homeowners and small businesses the chance to borrow up to $40,000 for as low as 1.875 percent interest. The loans are available to homeowners, renters and business owners in Sedgwick, Butler, Cowley, Harvey, Kingman, Reno and Sumner counties.  Applicants can apply online or in person at the Carlton School at 4900 S. Clifton. The loans can be available to be paid back over a period of time up to thirty years.

As short term services wrap up for tornado victims in Wichita, there are still many who need long-term assistance.  The Salvation Army now has case workers working one on one to help those who lost everything and don't have insurance.  While they say FEMA assistance is unlikely, they may be eligible for additional services. The Lord's Diner opens each night at 5:30. Since the tornado, its seen twice as many patrons as usual. With other shelters and food services closing up shop, victims of the tornados are doing what they can to start thinking about what's next.  It could take months to clean up Oaklawn neighborhoods.  These residents are ready to get back to normal, but for folks like Cindy Wood, getting there isn't easy.

Winds from the Oaklawn tornado were not strong enough to blow over this "for sale" sign on 52nd Street. But they did leave a mess of limbs in the driveway. "Outside of that, the home appeared to be fine,” says Re/MAX realtor, Kirk Short, the listing agent for this house. "With tornadoes and weather damage, it's hit or miss,” says Short. “You'll have one house that gets hit.  And the house right next door gets no damage. "  He says his listings weren't damaged.