Volunteers needed to assist with clean-up efforts after February tornado in Clark County

When an EF2 tornado touched down in eastern Clark County on Feb. 27, 2024, the Clark County Emergency Management Agency quickly identified and began working with the more than 90 households facing various levels of damage. 

What's happening: To deal with the aftermath, the Clark County Long Term  Recovery Committee is seeking both individuals and groups of volunteers to assist with debris cleanup on the following weekends: 
• May 25-26 
• June 1-2 
• June 8-9 
Help is needed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each of these dates. There will be an on-site briefing beginning at 9 a.m. each day. Lunch and drinks will be provided. All the dates are weather permitting.  The first volunteer effort took place May 18-19. 
Courtesy Casey TingleyA look at damage from EF2 tornado that touched down in eastern Clark County on Feb. 27.  Volunteers are being sought to help clean up remaining debris. 

What’s happened so far: The Clark County Emergency Management Agency gathered local organizations to form the Clark County Long Term Recovery Committee (LTRC). It's a collective of organizations assembled to guide and manage the clean-up and support efforts for residents following the  February tornado. The LTRC has representatives from the Clark County Emergency Management Agency,  the United Way of Clark, Champaign, and Madison Counties, The Salvation Army of Clark County, The Nehemiah Foundation, the Northeastern Local School District, and Clark-Shawnee Local School District. 

Shortly thereafter, the Long Term Recovery Committee teamed with American Regulators USA, a non-profit that mobilizes volunteers to provide immediate assistance and support in the aftermath of natural disasters providing search and rescue, debris management, and engaging in long-term recovery committees. 
American Regulators completed 23 residential property cleanups with the help of both members of their own organization and local volunteers. The crews have committed about 950 hours of time to disaster clean-up and debris removal efforts.  
The Long Term Recovery Committee now is working with the American Regulators to use the donations made to the Clark County Disaster Relief Fund and to seek volunteers to continue clean-up efforts. 
Courtesy Casey TingleyA look at damage from EF2 tornado that touched down in eastern Clark County on Feb. 27.  Volunteers are being sought to help clean up remaining debris. 
Specific locations will be posted within the “American Regulators USA Disaster  Relief” Facebook group. Search and follow the group to sign up, find the specific location, sign the electronic (DocuSign) liability release, and ask any additional questions of the group’s administrator. 

Who is helping: Since the tornado, The Salvation Army of Clark County connected individually with every affected household, opening 59 total cases. Of those, 51 have been closed,  and eight households are continuing through the case management process. The Salvation Army began helping affected families immediately following the tornado by opening an emergency shelter and providing for additional immediate needs, including hot meals, groceries, tarps, clothing, gas cards, cleaning supplies,  transportation, appliances, home repairs, building materials, tree removal and distributed the storage totes purchased using some Disaster Relief funds and a  donation from Home Depot.  “The Salvation Army will continue to support those in need until every open case is closed,” said Jamie Scanlon, Pathway of Hope case manager for The Salvation Army. 

The United Way of Clark, Champaign, and Madison Counties has served as the fiduciary of the donations, of which 100% have gone directly toward the fund. The  Long Term  Recovery Committee collectively determined the best use of funds raised toward disaster relief efforts. The Clark County Disaster Relief Fund collected almost $10,000, most of which will be used to supply the equipment needed for the American Regulators to work with volunteers in additional cleanup. A small portion of the funds were used to purchase storage totes that were an urgent need of residents gathering belongings. 
Courtesy Casey TingleyA look at damage from EF2 tornado that touched down in eastern Clark County on Feb. 27.  Volunteers are being sought to help clean up remaining debris. 
What they are saying: “Join us in helping to restore the community by volunteering your time and skills to support those in need,” — Mark Fouts, board president of American Regulators  USA. 

“As it has in the past, our community willingly stepped up and took action to rally around our neighbors who needed help,” — Kerry Pedraza, executive director of  United Way of Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties.  

Source: United Way of Clark, Champaign, and Madison Counties
Courtesy Casey TingleyA look at damage from EF2 tornado that touched down in eastern Clark County on Feb. 27.  Volunteers are being sought to help clean up remaining debris.