The
An EF-2 tornado that landed on Friday
In Monroe County, extensive harm was inflicted upon residences and commercial establishments.
The cleanup went on Monday in a community located off Old State Road 37, situated just south of downtown Bloomington.
When the tornado struck, two warehouses owned by Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County were completely demolished. These facilities housed various tools, machinery, and construction supplies that Habitat utilized for their projects.
Now, the group that assists in constructing houses for people within the community needs to reconstruct itself.
Just three miles away, homes in the Osage Place neighborhood were completely untouched.
In these residences dwell several families who currently have a place they can call their own, all because of the efforts carried out by Habitat for Humanity along with its dedicated volunteers.
For those residing there, these homes symbolize more than mere shelter; they embody the quintessential American dream of owning one’s own house.
Now, the houses the organization planned to construct in the same area for additional families have become a postponed aspiration following the destruction caused by Friday’s tornado.
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“We will continue to uphold our promise to the families we serve, though we now face an additional challenge,” stated Wendy Goodlett, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County.
The site of that challenge used to be the ruins of Habitat’s warehouses, which were partially damaged along with some of their machinery.
Very little of the construction materials kept within remained untouched, as they were all intended to be utilized for erecting between 8 and 10 houses annually for those eligible under the initiative.
“It’s difficult to know how to begin. We have wandered around aimlessly for some time,” stated Goodlett.
The remainder of the time has been dedicated to rescuing whatever can be saved and discarding what cannot.
Goodlett feels lucky because they have insurance. However, she isn’t certain about the renters living in houses just a short distance away down the street.
“As a housing provider, our primary concern is for those who have lost their homes,” stated Goodlett.
