Agencies Come Together After Tornado

On June 7th, 2007, a number people in the town of Riverview in Oconto County had their lives literally uprooted when an EF3 tornado tore through their community, leaving a devastating path of animal and property destruction, but, fortunately, no loss of human life. The town municipal building and fire department were destroyed, along with nine homes. Although a number of farm animals were killed. Because that area of Oconto County is not heavily populated-there are less than 1,000 people residing in the town- the governor did not declare the town a disaster area; therefore no federal disaster funds were available for reconstruction efforts. After NEWCAP's Executive Director, Robert Koller, alerted Oconto County officials of other state emergency funds they might be eligible for, county officials named the Oconto County Economic Development to submit the actual application for the grant monies.

NEWCAP offered to collaborate and coordinate HOME dollars, from one of their grants with the Department of Commerce, to assist individuals the Oconto County Economic Development would work with. NEWCAP HOME Program dollars would be used to rehab the homes that were owned by the individual and those that had pre-tornado housing problems, so it involved a lot of juggling and creative thinking to dovetail the two grant programs to provide maximum benefit to those effected by the storm. Below are several examples of what was done with both HOME and Emergency Assistance funds.

The pictures below show an existing home with 224 square feet of living space (8' x 28') inside what appeared to be a non-conventional housing unit. Although this house experienced considerable damage due to the tornado, the pre-tornado conditions were such that NEWCAP was able to assist in a trailer replacement as part of the State funded HOME Program. Below are before and after pictures. NEWCAP provided approximately $20,000 in HOME Program dollars and Oconto County Economic Development provided approximately $20,000 in State funded Emergency Assistance dollars. In addition to the home purchase, the unit received a well, septic, and a heat source.

Before	After

The next home was a 1969 model 14' x 80' (1,120 sq. ft.) mobile home set on pillars with skirting. This home received a direct hit from the tornado causing extensive damage to the structure and foundation. However, prior to the tornado the basement had begun to expand and leak. As a result, the walls were pushed out and the roof deck was lifting. The Emergency Assistance Program provided approximately $37,000 and NEWCAP provided approximately $20,000. This home was owned by an elderly couple.

Before	After

The next home was a 1978 model 14' x 80' (1,120 sq. ft.) mobile home set on 32 feet of basement and concrete block pillars. The home had sustained considerable damage due to the tornado, but also had very dangerous pre-tornado conditions. Because the mobile home was resting on concrete blocks the flooring in a large section of the home was, as the inspector called it, "floating". It was only a matter of time before the entire floor fell into the crawl space. Ironically, the home was owned by an elderly couple who had lived there for 29 years! Needless to say the couple is very happy with their new home. The Emergency Assistance Program provided approximately $16,000 and NEWCAP's HOME Program provided approximately $17,000.

Before	After

This is just another example of how a Community Action Agency, like NEWCAP, using a variety of resources and funds, including CSBG for staff time, can coordinate with local governmental authorities to leverage resources to meet community economic need.

-- Bob Koller