EDITORIAL: Disaster relief provided sun with one cloud

May 12--Tuesday was bright and sunny in east Greensboro for reasons that go well beyond the blue sky and balmy breezes. Federal disaster aid is on the way for those in that area struck by deadly and decimating tornado nearly four weeks ago. Residents are trying to rebuild homes and businesses and to restart their lives, and President Donald Trump cleared the way for a visit on Thursday by officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assess the area and provide assistance to those most affected.

"It's encouraging that FEMA is going to be involved," City Council member Sharon Hightower, who represents that area, told the News & Record's Richard Barron. "It says to us that this disaster was really at a high level."

Said Eastwood Avenue resident Tiffany Garner-Noble, whose property was damaged: "That's wonderful, wonderful news that the government finally heard our cries and our pleas."

The EF2 twister tore through the area late on April 15, cutting a 16-mile-wide swath about a 1,000 feet wide with 135 mph winds that damaged 1,007 structures, from single-family homes to businesses, destroying 37 of them. One person died when a tree struck a vehicle.

There are numerous needs in that area, and federal assistance programs are designed to address many of them. Those whose homes and businesses are affected can get aid even if they don't own the property. Grief counseling also would be available to process the psychological effects of those terrifying winds.

Some lifting of spirits already has occurred. Vice President Mike Pence, in town for a scheduled fundraiser a few days after the storm, took time to tour the area. Gov. Roy Cooper visited and threw his office's weight behind relief efforts.

But the most practical aid, which has been celebrated often, was the blood, sweat and tears shed by hundreds of residents who reached out in so many ways on an ongoing basis.

Groups and individuals came to clear property. Others fed both children whose free in-school meals were lost when schools had to close and, in some cases, relocate, and those working to help. Still thousands simply reached into their pockets for donations of cash, food, water and clothing. As awful and frightening as that pounding tornado was on that Sunday afternoon, all that public assistance and now the available federal aid are invaluable.

Yet, there was one troubling aspect of what should have been a brighter moment for those who have been enduring the dark.

The first public announcement of the federal aid package was distributed not by the White House, the governor's office, FEMA, the city, the mayor's office or even Hightower's office.

No, the first words about the disaster decree came in an accomplishment-touting email from the office of U.S. Rep. Mark Walker (R-Greensboro), whose Sixth District includes the area struck by the tornado.

It was followed soon by a similar celebratory note from U.S. Rep. Ted Budd (R-Advance), whose 13th District does not.

In a time of tragedy, couldn't we have set aside for a few more hours the predictable prattle of political power so that these victims could celebrate a new source of some relief?

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