Budd, Walker tour tornado-ravaged areas

April 20--GUILFORD COUNTY -- A local congressman said it's too early to definitively say whether areas of Greensboro and Guilford County will qualify for federal disaster assistance in the wake of a tornado touching down this past Sunday.

U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, R-13th, praised the volunteer relief effort as he toured the area Thursday and helped distribute free meals at a church. The areas hit by the tornado and severe storms straddle the border between the 13th Congressional District and the 6th District served by fellow Republican Rep. Mark Walker.

On Thursday, Walker also visited areas hit by the tornado and storms that brought catastrophic winds.

Walker donated $5,000 from his campaign to the recovery efforts, while also meeting with volunteers.

"Rebuilding is always hard, and it will require our entire community, but I am always impressed at the resiliency and faith demonstrated in our community," he said. "These people and these traits are what it's all about. Our community will overcome and return even stronger. We will do it hand-in-hand, neighbor-to-neighbor."

Budd told The High Point Enterprise that the process for federal disaster assistance is just starting.

Earlier this week, after touring storm-damaged neighborhoods, Gov. Roy Cooper announced that state and local officials were doing assessments for an application for federal disaster relief.

"It rolls up from assessments to the governor to FEMA," Budd said.

Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston of Greensboro, who has spent the week helping in the area, said he hopes those coping with damages qualify for federal aid.

Teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were supposed to be on scene Thursday, Alston told The Enterprise.

"They are trying to see whether or not to grant it or recommend it. But we should qualify -- without a doubt," Alston said.

Federal assistance will be needed to help residents -- many of whom are on low to moderate incomes -- rebuild their homes or find new ones, he said.

"Some of them didn't have property insurance on their houses. Some of them are renters," Alston said. "Even those with insurance will have to pay deductibles of $1,000 or $2,000. And a lot of them don't have that kind of spare money lying around."

Alston said federal assistance would supplement the remarkable local volunteer and charitable effort.

"The people have come out to help immediately. But this is a marathon, not a sprint," Alston said.

The tornado and severe storms cut through eastern Greensboro and eastern parts of Guilford County late Sunday afternoon. The storm resulted in one death of a motorist, when a tree fell on his car, and caused damages to more than 1,000 homes, businesses and other structures, including three public schools.

The EF2 tornado generated winds up to 135 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. In addition to Greensboro and Guilford County, the storm system damaged homes and buildings in parts of Rockingham County in and around Reidsville.

On Thursday, Budd took part in a ride-along to survey areas in Greensboro that were damaged in the storm. He also served lunches at New Light Baptist Church.

Budd consulted with Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan, Greensboro Police Chief Ken Scott and other local law enforcement earlier this week. Members of Budd's congressional office staff have helped out at emergency shelters and churches assisting the tornado and storm victims.

Budd said he was impressed by the level of volunteer outreach and coordination of resources among nonprofit relief groups, churches and citizens pitching in to help.

"A Red Cross volunteer who's been working for the Red Cross for eight years said, in all of his time doing this, he's never seen a community come together as fast and as organized as this," Budd told The Enterprise.

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