RENO COUNTY, Kan. — Reno County Emergency Management Director Adam Weishaar gave County Commissioners an update on the May 18th Plevna Tornado during their meeting Tuesday. Twenty-eight homes sustained some degree of damage from that tornado, with nine homes destroyed.
Weishaar said every rural fire district in the county sent personnel to the Plevna area in the initial response along with Sheriff’s deputies, who initially did a grid search of all areas in the path of the tornado. Since then, volunteers and others have been in Plevna to assist with cleanup operations.
Nineteen families made applications for assistance at a multi-agency response center that was established through Reno County VOAD following the tornado, at which multiple agencies and organizations were on hand. Of those 19, ten had no insurance coverage on their property.
Local fundraising to assist victims is extremely critical in that disaster aid won’t be available due to not meeting the required thresholds, including SBA low interest loans that were available in the Cottonwood Complex fire
Weishaar said the dollar amount of uninsured damage incurred from the storm will not meet the required about $295,000 threshold to be able to access assistance, and total damages from a series of storms that night won’t be enough to be able to access many types of assistance.
SBA low interest loans, which were available to families impacted by the Cottonwood fire, also will not be an option because at least 25 homes had to have sustained at least a 50% loss in order to be eligible.
There will be some help from Reno County, including property tax adjustments for this fall’s statements and eligibility for Neighborhood Revitalization Program incentives for rebuilding. Weishaar pointed out this is going to be a long process for recovery, noting they were working with Cottonwood Fire victims for some 2 ½ years.
In support of Plevna area residents impacted by the tornado, Sandhills Brewing at 111 West 2nd in Downtown Hutchinson is hosting a fundraiser, “Party for Plevna” Friday evening from 5-10 PM.
Carla Stanfield from the United Way of Reno County told Ad Astra News the food truck Whatever’s Cooking will be on hand with a variety of items, with the local band Bluez Warning playing from 7-9. Donations will be taken throughout the evening as United Way and VOAD seek to raise $250,000 to assist in recovery efforts.
If you can’t make it to Friday’s event, you can also donate to the Reno County Disaster Fund online at unitedwayofrenocounty.org/disaster.
