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 2008/02/13 - Mayor Wharton Joins Forces to Assist Families Impacted by Tornado Damage

 

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF SHELBY COUNTY, TENNESSEE
160 North Main Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38103

For Immediate Release:
February 13, 2008		  
 

 Mayor A C Wharton Joins Efforts to Assist Families Impacted by
Tornado Damage in Shelby County

Memphis, TN. -  Operating from the premise that we are all neighbors in Shelby County, Tennessee, Mayor A C Wharton formally announced, at a Press Conference today, a sustained countywide response to the tornadoes that ripped through the state this past week.  Regarding damage in Shelby County, Mayor Wharton expressed concern that many individuals outside of affected areas have underestimated the full extent of devastation. "We were blessed not to have had more deaths to occur locally.  Of course, this could be a major reason why more attention hasn't been focused on other types of loss suffered here," Wharton speculated. 

While applauding the City of Memphis, particularly MLG&W, and other governmental and community efforts, Mayor Wharton is working to intensify focus on those individuals and families whose more immediate needs might otherwise fall through the cracks of other expansive recovery efforts.  He commented, "We have seen from previous experiences that severe weather of this magnitude has both direct and indirect implications.  Our hearts go out to those families who lost loved ones.  Also, we are definitely sensitive to those families whose homes took direct hits.  We can't forget, however, that businesses were also damaged, leaving many workers without paid employment while repairs and relocations are made." 

To provide needed funding to address this recovery effort a Shelby County Community Services Disaster Assistance Fund has been established to gather financial support and in-kind donations from local faith and business leaders, certain community organizations and the general public.  Mayor Wharton is being joined in this effort by former U. S. Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. who has already begun raising funds to assist Shelby County citizens who fall within the designated areas of need (listed below).

Assistance will be provided through the Shelby County Community Services Agency (CSA) in the following areas:

  • LIMITED UTILITY ASSISTANCE and RENTAL/MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE
    A limited amount of utility assistance and rental/mortgage assistance will be available to workers who have been temporarily suspended from jobs due to damage to their place of employment. This assistance will apply to those individuals who have still not returned to a normal work schedule as of February 20.
  • ASSISTANCE WITH FOOD REPLACEMENT
    Assistance to certain families who were without electricity for an extended period of time as a result of the storm.  This will not include families that are the recipients of benefits through the Department of Human Services which is offering replacement food stamps for recipients without power for at least 24 hours.  Income requirements will apply also. 
  • MINOR HOME and BUILDING REPAIRS
    Minor home and building repairs (specifically buildings and properties of non-profit organizations) will be offered to selected Shelby County residents with the assistance of several community programs including Shelby County's "Building for the Future" program and the local Carpenters Union.  With reference to home repairs, special focus will be given to the elderly.
  • SPECIAL NEEDS
    A very few number of requests will be approved for assistance for those individuals whose needs are not necessarily outlined in the above-listed information.

In moving this program forward, Mayor Wharton yesterday personally requested discretionary funding from Governor Phil Bredesen for this effort.  Wharton added, "From Bellevue Baptist Church and World Overcomers Church to the Memphis Food Bank and MIFA, I am extremely appreciative of the leadership shown in this time of crisis by so many.  As a governmental official, it's also gratifying to know of the willingness of community partners to fill in and do more when there is an expressed need."

For assistance from this program, please call the Shelby County Mayor's Assistance Center at 901-545-4311. 

All interested in making donations or providing needed assistance in this effort should contact the Mayor's Office at 901-545-4500.  Please send donations, payable to the Shelby County Community Services Disaster Assistance Fund, to:

     Shelby County Government
          Attn:  Disaster Assistance Fund
     160 N. Main St. Suite 850
     Memphis, TN  38103-1812

For more information, contact:
Bobby White, Executive Assistant, Office of Mayor
at 901-545-4500		    

 
 
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