Tempe, Arizona is still recovering one month after a microburst hit the city on October 10. City officials reported that about 1,200 buildings were affected. Of these, 1,001 homes and 83 businesses were damaged, and 144 homes and 58 businesses were destroyed, according to AZFamily.
Residents like Noel are still dealing with damaged homes and insurance issues while preparing for more bad weather over the weekend. With power out, she is using extension cords for electricity. A duct from her AC unit is hanging, and a roof hole lets rain water into her walls. After a partial insurance denial, she is seeking help from FEMA, as reported by ABC15.
The community has responded to the storm. The American Red Cross served over 6,000 meals, and Team Rubicon helped 32 households. The city’s Disaster Recovery Center assisted 125 people, and the Care 7 unit helped over 100 families. The campaign "Tempe Needs You" collected donations for local nonprofits. Cleanup crews removed about 1,500 tons of fallen trees and foliage, including 500 trees in Tempe parks, and damaged roofs, like that of resident Dylan and his daughter, are still covered with tarps, as mentioned by AZFamily and ABC15.
