Monroe County is still sweeping up after the June 17 tornado that cut across the county's northwestern corner, and officials are trying to make the cleanup a little less overwhelming. In a recovery update today, county emergency staff reminded residents that dumpsters and local resources are on hand for house and construction debris, even as property owners remain on the hook for clearing damage from private land. The notice also steers residents toward state relief options and 211 damage reporting while crews wrap up on-the-ground assessments.
Dumpsters Open Through July 8
Dumpsters that went out on June 25 will stay in place through July 8 to take storm-related house and construction debris, according to Monroe County Emergency Management. The containers are strictly for materials tied to the tornado cleanup, and property owners are asked not to put tree limbs or other vegetation at the curb. Yard debris and similar waste are still the homeowner's responsibility to handle and haul.
The drop sites are set up at Liberty Church, 9721 N. Liberty Hollow Rd., and Mt. Pleasant Church, 3100 W. Burma Rd. in Gosport, along with a third collection point at the Morgan-Monroe State Forest entrance, officials said.
State Aid And Damage Reporting
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security has opened the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) to help eligible uninsured or underinsured residents in storm-impacted counties, including Monroe. The SDRF can provide immediate assistance for qualifying losses, and applicants can review requirements and submit applications through the state website, according to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
State officials are also asking residents to document what the storm did to their homes. Anyone with structural damage is urged to report it through Indiana 211 by calling 866-211-9966 so damage assessments can move ahead.
Damage Assessments And Safety
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners has declared a local disaster emergency to speed up response and cleanup work, WRTV reported.
Early on, a preliminary survey from the National Weather Service identified an EF-2 tornado track through the area. In its July 1 update, Monroe County Emergency Management noted that the weather service upgraded that assessment to EF-3 on June 26. Background on the original survey work and storm details is available in the National Weather Service Indianapolis summary.
How To Get Help
Residents who need shelter, prescriptions or other immediate assistance can call the American Red Cross hotline at 1-800-733-2767 or head to the resource center at the Stinesville Community Center.
For local questions about cleanup logistics or available services, Monroe County Emergency Management director Justin Baker can be reached at [email protected] or 812-349-2533, as reported by WBIW.
