FEMA staff helping Jacksonville residents apply for tornado damage aid

May 03--JACKSONVILLE -- Workers hammered new shingles onto Cheryl Harris' home under the hot sun Thursday afternoon.

The retired elementary school teacher's home on Fourth Avenue Northeast lost much of its roof when the March 19 tornado barreled through the city. Her insurance company hasn't told her yet if it'll cover all of her house damage.

"If they don't cover it all then I hope FEMA can help cover the rest," Harris said, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Regardless, Harris has registered online with the federal agency for aid just in case.

All week FEMA has had a team of workers out in Jacksonville to make sure other residents have done the same. The crew is set to remain in the city until it has surveyed damaged homes, helped everyone in need register for aid and answered questions about the relief process.

Bob Porreca, spokesman for FEMA, said workers have been in the city since Monday.

President Donald Trump last week declared the tornado that wrecked Jacksonville, Wellington, Angel, Nances Creek and other areas a major disaster. Doing so makes federal money available to help local governments pay the cost of cleanup, and to help individuals with uninsured damage.

"They'll stay out there until the leadership determines they've done everything they can," Porreca said. "They go into neighborhoods that are damaged, try to contact survivors and register them for assistance."

Porreca said that once a resident is registered, a FEMA inspector will return to the home in around 10 days to survey damage.

Porreca said he didn't know how long it would take before residents receive any money from FEMA for home repairs. He added that there's typically confusion about how much assistance FEMA will give for disaster recovery.

"FEMA only gives grants up to a certain point," he said. "And that may not cover the extent of the damage to a home."

What's most important now is to register with FEMA as quickly as possible to get aid in a timely manner, Porreca said.

"My advice is you have to get your registration in early," he said. "And it's your recovery ... you're the manager of it, so you have to stay on top of it."

William Noles, 78, who lives on Fourth Avenue Northeast in Jacksonville, said he registered online for FEMA assistance within hours after the federal disaster declaration. Still, Noles said he was glad to see the FEMA representatives at his door Wednesday.

"They were three nice ladies with badges and identification ... they said they were assessing damage and asked if I'd registered and gave me a brochure," Noles said.

Noles said he was at home when the tornado knocked several trees onto the back of his house.

"All I remember was the noise ... and the smell of gas that night," Noles said. "The odor of gas was something else because so many meters were pulled up."

Noles said his insurance will cover most of the damage to his home, but not tree removal, including several large tree stumps left in his yard. Noles said it could cost hundreds of dollars to remove the stumps.

"My only question was if FEMA would cover that, but I was told there would be no help from them," Noles said. "They're only interested in damage to the house."

Noles said that doesn't upset him though. He's just glad the damage to his home wasn't more severe.

"I'm lucky my house wasn't nearly as damaged as others," he said.

Harris said she'd be happy if FEMA could help her, but was already grateful for the help she received from volunteer charity groups in the days following the tornado. At one point, there were 20 volunteers in her yard helping remove debris, she said.

"If a tornado doesn't make you humble and closer to God, I don't know what will," Harris said.

Residents and business owners affected by the storms can apply for help without the need of a FEMA worker at disasterassistance.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing- and speech-impaired.

Staff writer Patrick McCreless: 256-235-3561. On Twitter @PMcCreless_Star.

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