Recovery efforts underway in Grinnell, city sets up disaster relief fund
GRINNELL, Kan. (KSNW) — Recovery is just beginning in Grinnell after an EF-3 tornado struck the town. Community leaders say financial donations will be key.
Equity Bank stayed open the day after the tornado tore through the west side of town. The chaos of the disaster left some missing their debit cards or bank information, and withdrawals still needed to be made.
On Monday, the City of Grinnell, with the help of its local branch, set up a disaster relief fund. Donations made out to the City of Grinnell can be deposited at any Equity Bank and will be redirected to recovery efforts.
With city staff either helping with cleanup or affected themselves, the bank stepped in to fill the gap.
'Grinnell's a small town to start with, right? And we're going to need to focus on rebuilding. If somebody is underinsured, or whatever the need may be, we want to have the funds available to help those people out. It's a small, tight-knit community,' said Levi Getz, president of the western Kansas region of Equity Bank.
The relief fund will primarily support rebuilding once debris is cleared.
Warnings saved lives in Grinnell tornado, rated an EF-3
Volunteers are helping recover belongings from the wreckage, and debris removal is already well underway. Two days in, much of the smaller debris has been cleared, thanks to more than 1,000 volunteers.
As crews sift through what remains of homes, they collect personal items—photos, toys, books—and place them on a lost-and-found table at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building, now a volunteer hub.
Volunteer Linda Wolf says the stacks of recovered photos can be an emotional sight for tornado victims.
'Scattered memories,' she called them. 'People come in and find loved ones' pictures that they thought they had lost, and now they still have them,' she said.
She says the most difficult things they've recovered so far have been multiple tombstones from Grinnell's cemeteries.
Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas
Catholic Charities USA has provided a $25,000 grant, which will go directly toward helping the Grinnell community recover and rebuild. Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas suggests these ways to help:
Make a financial donation by clicking here. The donations will help families meet specific challenges as they rebuild their lives.
Donate items at the Catholic Charities offices in Hays, Salina and Manhattan. Items needed are:
Work gloves & heavy-duty trash bags
Flashlights & batteries
Dust masks
Storage tubs and boxes
Cleaning supplies
Laundry detergent, toilet paper & paper towels
Furniture & household essentials
Clothing, towels, and hygiene items
Visa, Walmart, or gas gift cards
Volunteer by checking in at the Grinnell VFW.
Victims can seek assistance from Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas by calling 785-625-2644, emailing communications@ccnks.org, or by clicking here and filling out a form.
Gove County Community Foundation
The foundation has created the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund to provide immediate help and long-term support for the tornado victims. Click here to donate.
Grinnell VFW
The Grinnell VFW is asking for monetary donations to help replace all of their destroyed grave markers. If you are willing to donate, you are asked to send your donation through the mail:
Grinnell VFW Aux. #2864C/O Carol Rietcheck, Aux. President6658 W. Road 1505Grinnell, KS 67738Memo: 'Grave markers'
Tune into KSN News at 10 for continuing coverage with Payton Steiner.
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