Bledsoe County Mayor Bobby Collier walks across the lawn amid the destruction of Vonnie Jackson’s New Harmony home on Walden’s Ridge. Tin roofing material and lumber marked the path of storms that slammed into the community near the Bledsoe/Rhea county line in this file photo.DEADLINE NEARTennessee victims of the April tornadoes have until Tuesday to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for federal disaster assistance. To register, call 800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., TTY 800-462-6585, or online go to www.DisasterAssistance.gov. After Tuesday, storm victims can contact People Helping People Recover from Disasters by calling the Bledsoe County mayor’s office at 423-447-6855 or EMA Director Paul Putnam at 423-280-3837.
Just over three months after two tornadoes, one an EF4, ripped across Walden’s Ridge on the Bledsoe-Rhea county line, state and federal officials are teaming with local folks to keep help available for victims of disaster.
About 40 to 50 local residents in July underwent training provided by the federal and Tennessee emergency management agencies to form a disaster aid group called People Helping People Recover from Disasters, Bledsoe County Mayor Bobby Collier said Thursday.
Officials say the April 27 tornadoes damaged at least 200 homes and destroyed more than 25 homes and businesses in Bledsoe.
As the Tuesday deadline approaches for April storm victims to register for Federal Emergency Management Agency aid, Collier said the People Helping People group will be ready to pick up where FEMA leaves off in helping storm victims.