Barron County tornado victims told by state officials that help is there for them

May 24--CAMERON -- Just a week after a tornado destroyed the majority of mobile homes at Prairie Lake Estates in Barron County, state officials descended on the area and promised to do what they could to meet the needs of displaced residents.

"We're here to follow up and follow through to make sure everybody is getting what they need," Administration Secretary Scott Neitzel said in introducing a panel of Gov. Scott Walker's Cabinet members attending a recovery assistance town hall meeting Tuesday afternoon at Mosaic Telecom in Cameron.

When a question-and-answer session began after introductory remarks, it quickly became clear that the needs remain great in the aftermath of the EF-3 tornado that killed one person, injured 25 and caused at least $10 million in property damage when it swept through parts of Barron and Rusk counties around supper time May 16.

One of the most emotional pleas came from Sandra Jackson, whose trailer was one of 38 at Prairie Lake Estates destroyed in the storm. Her mother, Barbara, also lived at the mobile home park about halfway between Chetek and Cameron and was displaced.

The women, plus Jackson's son and fiance, have been using charitable hotel vouchers but said they will run out of vouchers after Wednesday and have no money to afford alternative housing. Adding to their sense of desperation is the harsh reality that they were among the 10 to 20 percent of tornado victims who state officials said didn't have insurance.

"I have nothing," Jackson told the officials, choking back tears. "I have no place to put my head at night. My mother has no place to put her head. What am I supposed to do?"

Lisa Marks, deputy secretary of the state Department of Children and Families, told the crowd the state already has helped 10 families with hotel vouchers and security deposit aid through an emergency assistance program.

When a local official approached Jackson after the meeting and reassured her that more hotel vouchers were available, it demonstrated the value of the town hall meeting attended by more than 100 people. The meeting allowed state and local officials to learn more about the most pressing needs faced by storm victims and enabled those whose lives were upended by the tornado to learn about the resources available to help them.

"Up to this point people have been dealing with the crisis and the impact on their lives, and now they are starting to realize all of their unmet needs," said Brian Satula, administrator of the state Division of Emergency Management. "Now we're trying to fill in the gaps."

At the same time a large fire was burning debris from what a week earlier had been their homes a few miles down Highway SS, a number of displaced residents at the meeting expressed concern about the availability of temporary and long-term housing options in the area, prompting Neitzel to declare that housing help should be a point of emphasis.

$1 million challenge grant

The region has the opportunity to get a big boost in its efforts to aid storm victims because businessman and philanthropist Foster Friess, a Rice Lake native, has pledged a $1 million matching grant for donations made through Red Cedar Church in Rice Lake, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said.

As part of the grant, tax-deductible donations to those affected by the disaster can be made atredcedarchurch.com.

Residents with housing or other economic needs were encouraged to call the county Health and Human Services Department at 715-537-5691.

Satula also urged residents with storm damage to make sure they report it to authorities because at this point neither the damage to public infrastructure nor private property has reached the level necessary to quality for federal emergency aid.

Contact: 715-833-9209, eric.lindquist@ecpc.com, @ealscoop on Twitter

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