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Relief fund established for local family who lost member in recent storm |
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Wednesday, 07 May 2008 |
A relief fund has been established to help a family who lost a loved one in the Friday storms that wreaked havoc in Hensley and areas across the state.
“Tornado Relief Hensley” was set up at Metropolitan National Bank by Annette Cook of the Hensley Fire Department. Donations may be made at any bank branch.
The memorial service for Karen Ann Huff, 47, is scheduled for Saturday at Huson Funeral Home in Mabelvale.
The funeral reportedly costs around $1,700. Funds were being donated even before the account was established. About $900 is still needed. The family reportedly has no insurance and their home is a total loss.
State Rep. Dawn Creek-more, D-East End, who was walking through the damaged areas Tuesday afternoon, described the scene as “terrible.”
“I was walking up to brush and found two homes that nobody even knew were homes. There’s nothing there at all. You might see the foundation, but the whole lot is trees.”
Volunteers were out putting plastic on damaged roofs to protect items from getting wet from the expected rain Tuesday night, Creekmore said. This was being done, she said, to ensure that people wouldn’t become ineligible to make claims with their insurance agencies.
A command post is set up at Hensley Fire Department, Creekmore said. “People have been bringing in donated items to help in the relief efforts,” she said.
Hensley is in both Pulaski and Saline counties. While most of the damage was to the Pulaski County side, Saline County did not go unscathed.
Saline County Judge Lanny Fite said at least four homes were destroyed. Nine homes were heavily damaged and three suffered minimal damage.
He added that representatives with the Federal Emergency Management Agency were to assess damage this morning to figure out how much, if any, the county qualifies for public and individual assistance.
Public assistance refers to help available to county roads and property, and individual assistance refers to help available for personal property.
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