Hensley awaits ruling on disaster aid status
By ROBERT SHEARON Staff writer

Residents of Hensley may find out this week if they will qualify for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said District 27 state Rep. Dawn Creekmore, D-East End, in a recent telephone interview.

Creekmore said FEMA is assessing the damage from recent tornadoes and flooding. She said she has been told a decision on whether the area will be included in a federal disaster area will come down this week.

Hensley said there were two ways Hensley could qualify for disaster funds. The first is if FEMA includes the community in a countywide disaster plan for Pulaski County. The second would be if the disaster area includes the entire state.

Apparently Hensley, on its own, did not get enough damage to qualify for federal help.

Creekmore said 73 homes were damaged by the storms, but no dollar amount has been estimated for the damage.

She said FEMA's assessment report, which was completed last week, will go to the governor, who, along with local legislators, will write to President Bush asking for the area to be declared a federal disaster area, making it eligible for FEMA funds.

In the meantime, she said, area residents who suffered damage from the storm should register with FEMA by calling 1-800-261-FEMA (3362). That will speed up the process of receiving assistance if the area is named a federal disaster area, she said.

Creekmore said the Red Cross was in the area last week providing debit cards for residents to help cover immediate financial needs.

Both the Pulaski County and Saline County offices of emergency management are working with her, she said, since the damage occurred on both sides of the county line.

Terrell Burks, director of the Saline Count Office of Emergency Management, said Friday that FEMA had approved $27,000 in assistant to help with debris pickup in the Hensley area.

He said FEMA is expected to determine this week if assistance with structure damage will be available.

If the area doesn't qualify for that type of federal assistance, the state has indicated it will provide emergency funds, said Burks.