Tornado Clean-up Under Way

More than 1,200 Department of Transportation (DOT) dump truck loads of debris have been taken from areas where tornadoes struck Jasper County on January 12 to the landfill, and now DOT has moved on to Newton County.

Jasperites are picking up the pieces, and many community members turned out Saturday to offer a hand. Several members of the Monticello Hurricane football team joined together to help.

They include Tyler Banks, Kaidon Whidby, Ty’Mir Thornton, Jakob Mathis, Davyn Hill, Jordyn Campbell, Cam Farley, Chevy Sands, Monte Greene, and Brandon Ridley. Also volunteering were the Monticello Presbyterian Church and friends chainsaw brigade. In addition, several people brought heavy equipment and chain saws to help clean up debris. In all, nearly 100 volunteers signed in Saturday to help.

Storm victims are reminded that there is still food available at New Rocky Creek Baptist Church, and there are also supplies to help those who are cleaning up. Cleaning kits, rakes, shovels, blankets and more are available. Visit the Family Life Center at the church or call 470-910-2557.

Workers with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have set up a New Rocky Creek Baptist Church to help individuals with claims. Those workers will ask for personal information to process claims. They can be identified by their official vests.

However, persons who are hesitant to give out that information can go ahead and start a claim on the FEMA website, DisasterAssistance.gov, and use the claim number when talking to local officials.

About 100 households are without power still, primarily because work has to be done on the residence before it can be restored. Some of the homes affected are weekend homes so they may not be repaired as quickly as primary residences.