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County Disaster Assistance Program issues first checks  Share
On Wednesday, July 29, 2009, the Lawrence County Disaster Assistance Program issued the first reimbursement checks to agencies that had provided services to local residents in the flood of June, 2008. A total of $23,418.40 was issued to four agencies as reimbursement for expenses they had incurred in meeting the needs of victims of the disaster. The Lawrence County Health Department received a total of $12,007.58, the Sheriff's Department, $534.73, the City of Lawrenceville, $8,766.72, and Southeastern Illinois HOPE received $2,109.37. The funds are part of $505,898.07 awarded to Lawrence County from a federal grant administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Human Capital Development. As a result of three presidential disaster declarations for Illinois counties, the State was awarded $30,502,439.00 to provide services to individuals and families affected by floods in the affected counties. Lawrence County's grant was written with the assistance of Sarah Mann of the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission. ''These funds will help repay the Health Department, the Sheriff and Lawrenceville for some of the additional man-hours, equipment, and supplies that they had to expend to assure the safety of our citizens'' said Disaster Grant Manager Jerry Pacholski. ''The efforts they put out are nothing short of heroic. I wish there were some way we could repay all of the other first responders who did so much for our people. The County Board has given this program its full support''. The Disaster Program is in the process of obtaining reimbursement for the Old Northwest Territory Chapter of the American Red Cross, who was one of the first responders with humanitarian aid for 167 adults and 67 children after the flood. Southeastern Illinois HOPE was instrumental in beginning the recovery process for people who suffered loss of homes and personal possessions in the disaster. They continue to provide services to those who are still coping with ongoing aspects of long term recovery. The check they received was only the first reimbursement for services and replacement of clothes, appliances and home repair that they provided to flood victims.
HOPE will continue to provide services including the demolition of uninhabitable houses as a result of the flood. A total of $276,861.73 is included in the Program's budget for HOPE to use to demolish homes that are a health and social service problem within the unincorporated areas of Lawrence County. Persons wishing to apply for assistance in the demolition of flood damaged structures are requested to contact HOPE at (618) 943-5711 or (618) 928-2213. ''When I review the cases Bob Craft and Don Grigsby, HOPE's case managers, have presented to us for reimbursement, I am horrified by how much some families lost. But I am gratified by how much the people in this community donated to help people get back up. Not only did individuals, churches, and groups like Crop Walk donate money, but local merchants like King's Best Buy, Cannon's Furniture, Lowe's and Ruppel Electronics either let victims get appliances and furniture at cost or else extended credit to help see people had the necessities'' Pacholski continued. ''When I drive through the damaged area and see the houses that still need work, I realize what a long, hard job HOPE still has ahead of them.'' ''The rule of thumb is that how many days the disaster lasted times ten is what it will take for short-term recovery. That period times ten again is what it will take for long- term recovery'' said Roger Boyd, pastor of the Birds Free Methodist Church and co-chairman of HOPE. ''For Lawrence County, that means seven hundred days, over two years, to return a full sense of normal life to those affected by the flood.'' Like many places, Lawrence County had never prepared for long term recovery from an event of this magnitude. But Southeastern Illinois HOPE was quickly established with the help of agencies like Embarrass River Basin Agency, United Way, Salvation Army, Lutheran Child and Family Services and UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) as well as concerned individuals. But their job is far from done. Gene Ramsey, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville and co-chair of HOPE wants the group to remain viable and prepared for any future disaster which may strike their service area, which includes Crawford, Edwards, Jasper, Richland, and Wabash counties, as well as Lawrence. According to Pastor Ramsey, HOPE is seeking interested persons who are willing to work to ensure that the group can continue to be prepared to respond to natural or manmade crises which may befall our area. HOPE's Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 10:00 am in the basement of the First United Methodist Church, 1015 12th St, Lawrenceville. Concerned individuals are invited to attend. People who are interested in learning more about Southeastern Illinois HOPE, or who wish to apply for disaster assistance are asked to call (618) 943-5711 or (618) 928-2213. The Lawrence County Disaster Assistance Program is located in the basement of the Courthouse Annex, 1106 Jefferson, Lawrenceville. The phone number is (618)943-3595. For questions about this press release or the Disaster Assistance program, please call Jerry Pacholski at (618)943-3595 or cell at 618-928-1173
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