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One Week After Tornado Outbreak: Volunteer, Relief Efforts Continue

Thousands of volunteers worked across Dayton area neighborhoods over the weekend to clean up damage from the Memorial Day tornado outbreak.
Karen Bledsoe
/
WYSO
Thousands of volunteers worked across Dayton area neighborhoods over the weekend to clean up damage from the Memorial Day tornado outbreak.

Over the weekend, thousands of volunteers helped clean-up Dayton neighborhoods damaged by Memorial Day’s tornado outbreak.

Roadways once closed due to storm debris reopened in much of the city over the weekend. Power has been restored to all but about 2,000 residents.  Hundreds remain without gas service.

Dozens of buildings are no longer habitable, including at least two apartment complexes. Some affected residents are staying with friends or family members. About 130 people have moved into emergency shelters.

Local authorities are providing free birth certificates and property deeds to those who need them to file insurance claims. Insurance companies have set up mobile units across the city.

Representatives from FEMA will be on the ground assessing damaged properties this week.  The agency will not distribute any financial assistance during the visit.

Copyright 2019 WYSO

April Laissle is a graduate of Ohio University and comes to WYSO from WOUB Public Media in Athens, Ohio where she worked as a weekend host and reporter. There, she reported on everything from food insecurity to 4-H chicken competitions. April interned at KQED Public Radio in San Francisco, where she focused on health reporting. She also worked on The Broad Experience, a New-York based podcast about women and workplace issues. In her spare time, April loves traveling, trying new recipes and binge-listening to podcasts. April is a Florida native and has been adjusting to Ohio weather since 2011.