Sign up now for tornado cleanup day

Jul. 12--Anyone interested in helping tornado-affected residents clear trees and limbs from properties in rural Washington Township can join others for a cleanup day on Saturday.

If it rains, the cleanup will be moved to July 27.

Washington Township Trustee Barbara Ooley vowed in the wake of the June 15 devastation to organize crews to help residents clear their property.

And she has followed through on the promise.

Hundreds of trees were uprooted when a 400-yard-wide EF-2 tornado traveled through the Ellettsville area at 130 miles an hour that Saturday evening, carving a nearly 4-mile path north.

At least four Washington Township homes were destroyed and many more sustained damage. Most home insurance policies do not cover the cost of clearing trees ripped up during strong storms and tornadoes.

Volunteers should check in at Full Gospel Tabernacle church at 8799 Crossover Road beginning at 8 a.m. Workers are encouraged to bring chainsaws, work gloves and yard tools, and will be directed to an area or property to help. Volunteers have to sign a waiver, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

"Groups and Scout troops are welcome!" a notice from the township states.

Anyone with questions or who wants to register can call the township trustee office at 812-876-1158, or send an email to [email protected].

Waivers will be available Saturday, and also can be found at: https://bit.ly/2XFdmZo (case sensitive).

Low-interest loans

In other tornado-damage related news, those who experienced storm damage to their homes can apply for low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration's disaster assistance office.

Spokeswoman Laurie Dana said residents who sustained tornado damage should consider applying for a disaster loan, at a 2% interest rate, even if they are unsure they want or need one. She said those denied a disaster loan may be eligible for a grant of up to $10,000 from the state's Disaster Relief Fund.

"However, they must complete the disaster loan application to qualify for a grant," she said in an email explaining the benefits.

Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Residents are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to replace personal property.

A Disaster Loan Outreach Center has been established at the Northern Monroe Fire Territory Station at 5081 N. Old Ind. 37. It will be open today from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday and daily next week. It will close for good at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Loan applications also can be made online using the Electronic Loan Application at the SBA's secure website: DisasterLoan.sba.gov.

Contact Laura Lane at 812-331-4362 or email [email protected].

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