The town of Eureka has received a lot of help from volunteers, neighboring counties and the state as it recovers from a tornado June 26. Help from the federal government, though, is unlikely.
On KVOE’s Newsmaker segment this week, City Manager Ian Martell said Eureka’s tornado damage probably won’t meet thresholds as laid out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Martell says the community isn’t waiting for the official word to pick itself up and move on.
Martell calls the tornado a “two-edged sword.” On one hand, the recovery effort has gone extremely well because the memory of the July 7, 2016 tornado was so fresh. Unfortunately, the tornado from last week hit some of the same areas affected by the 2016 tornado and there was more damage this time.
Martell says the community is extremely grateful for the help it has received. He also says the area has demonstrated it can turn tragedy into triumph, and he fully expects that to happen again.
Monetary donations are still needed. The Emporia Community Foundation’s Growing Greenwood Relief Fund, Eureka Foundation and Eureka Ministerial Alliance are the main agencies collecting funds for the relief effort.
Meanwhile, community meals ended Tuesday. Volunteers are still needed, but they are advised to contact individuals in Eureka to see what help is needed with volunteer check-in and check-out ending this past weekend.
Services are being restored across the community. Mediacom, Eureka’s internet and TV provider, had to wait until power was restored before it could begin its restoration efforts due to protocol. With the power grid also affecting most Mediacom customers, Communications Director Phyllis Peters says last Friday’s restoration of power also meant those Mediacom customers could enjoy their internet and TV service again. The remaining 20 to 30 customers that are offline in about a three-mile span could have their services back by Monday. About 80 network lines connecting directly to homes or businesses had to be re-hung, and just a few of those connections need to be made.
Peters says Mediacom staff installed a generator, brought pallets of water to residents and worked on the Fourth of July to help the community.
AT&T, meanwhile, may not have landline phone service restored for another two weeks.
More information is available online at www.eurekakansas.com.
KVOE News ongoing coverage
*Click here for Wednesday’s preview of Eureka’s Party in the Park
*Click here for Tuesday’s perspective from Lyon County Director of Emergency Management Jarrod Fell
*Click here for Tuesday’s story on donation pickup locations in Eureka
*Click here for Monday’s story about Gov. Jeff Colyer’s second visit to Eureka following the tornado and work to restore phone, Internet and TV service
*Click here for July 1’s feature on Adrianne Stapleford, who took impressive photos of the Eureka tornado, and the cleanup at her mother Mandi Stapleford’s house
*Click here for June 30’s report on the injured and the attendance at the Multi-Agency Resource Center
*Click here for June 30’s story on the return of electric power and a deluge of donations
*Click here for June 29’s update on debris clearing efforts and food/water donations
*Click here for June 28’s update on the number of damaged structures, the ongoing help of Emporia and Lyon County government agencies and the upcoming implementation of the MARC
*Click here for information on the June 27 tour by Gov. Jeff Colyer and the National Weather Service’s preliminary rating
*Click here for June 27s damage assessment by Eureka and Greenwood County officials
*Click here for June 27’s story on how to help the recovery effort
*Click here for June 27’s initial story and photos about the Eureka tornado
