Video: Rebuilding, Recovery Continues In Louisville

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LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — “Tree branches, that big around came through and knocked a hole right through the roof, the living room, the kitchen.”

The slow rebuilding process makes two months feel like an eternity for Billy Blackwelder. But thanks to contractors, his home is finally coming back together.

“I’d say we’re 65 percent, 70 percent complete because we still have some trimming to do there. We’ve got some flooring to do, all the wall throughout the house has got to be painted,” Louisville resident Brenda Hunt said.

It wasn’t that easy for Hunt. Her house on Jordan Circle is nothing more than a concrete slab.

“We rented a home and we have just moved out of it and purchased another home in Louisville. It’s been a tremendous toll on my entire family,” Hunt said.

“We see people are making plans to move on with their lives and many of them are staying in their own communities,” FEMA Public Information Officer Susan Soloman said.

Public, private and non-profit organizations are still helping tornado victims.

“$5,370 households registered with FEMA for disaster assistance and about $5.5 million was approved for those individual households,” Soloman said.

MEMA, FEMA and SBA Disaster Recovery Centers are closed in Louisville. But it’s still important to reach out for assistance.

“We want to encourage everybody to stay in touch with FEMA and if your living expenses have expired and you don’t have a place to stay currently. And also if they have applied with the SBA and they haven’t provided all the information for them, they need to check on the application as well,” Soloman said.

About 90 percent of debris removal is complete.

Individuals that need assistance and temporary housing can call 1-800-621-FEMA(3362).