It’s been nearly two weeks since an EF-3 tornado caused destruction from Villisca to Carbon, Iowa. While there’s been progress made in the clean up efforts, the families impacted are still dealing with the aftermath. Kim Straw grew up in Villisca and lived in her home for 10 years.A tornado left it in shambles on May 21.A large tree fell into the side of her house, leaving holes. She said it’s unlivable. “It’s been devastating,” Straw said.Previous coverage: Tornadoes touch down in southwest Iowa, causing damageHer barn is gone and it caused so much more damage across her property. She came home to the mess after dodging another tornado in Red Oak. “You couldn’t see the house because of all the trees,” Straw said. “When I drove up of course, we’ve seen, it was just devastation.”The property looks much cleaner now thanks to church volunteers. Straw said she doesn’t have insurance on her home.She and her husband were remodeling the house but because they didn’t meet certain requirements, their insurance was cancelled.”A representative from the insurance company came out and was taking pictures and stuff and noticed we didn’t have any of our new siding on and didn’t have all of our new windows in yet, we had like three more windows to put in and so they dropped our insurance,” Straw said.Between work and all the storms, she said they didn’t have time to fix it before the tornado struck.”I just cried there was nothing much else I could do it was just too overwhelming,” she said.Read more: KETV viewers capture video of tornadoes that ripped through IowaStraw qualified for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants but is still waiting to receive the money.”I’m just waiting on everything to be finalized, so hopefully, you know?” Straw said. “The amount they gave me is not near enough to touch it, but we can replace some of the things that we lost, so that will be good.” Right now, they can’t afford to rebuild.Straw wants to bring in a modular home so her family has a place to live in until they can.She is asking for the community’s help. “I live to help others and so trying to ask for help is just not something I’m comfortable with but I also know reality, I can’t do this, we can’t do this on our own,” Straw said.She started a GoFundMe and hopes to raise enough to help her and her family get a place to live. She also has some advice for others impacted by the tornados, “Don’t give up, you can overcome it.” Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
It’s been nearly two weeks since an EF-3 tornado caused destruction from Villisca to Carbon, Iowa.
While there’s been progress made in the clean up efforts, the families impacted are still dealing with the aftermath.
Kim Straw grew up in Villisca and lived in her home for 10 years.
A tornado left it in shambles on May 21.
A large tree fell into the side of her house, leaving holes. She said it’s unlivable.
“It’s been devastating,” Straw said.
Previous coverage: Tornadoes touch down in southwest Iowa, causing damage
Her barn is gone and it caused so much more damage across her property.
She came home to the mess after dodging another tornado in Red Oak.
“You couldn’t see the house because of all the trees,” Straw said. “When I drove up of course, we’ve seen, it was just devastation.”
The property looks much cleaner now thanks to church volunteers.
Straw said she doesn’t have insurance on her home.
She and her husband were remodeling the house but because they didn’t meet certain requirements, their insurance was cancelled.
“A representative from the insurance company came out and was taking pictures and stuff and noticed we didn’t have any of our new siding on and didn’t have all of our new windows in yet, we had like three more windows to put in and so they dropped our insurance,” Straw said.
Between work and all the storms, she said they didn’t have time to fix it before the tornado struck.
“I just cried there was nothing much else I could do it was just too overwhelming,” she said.
Read more: KETV viewers capture video of tornadoes that ripped through Iowa
Straw qualified for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants but is still waiting to receive the money.
“I’m just waiting on everything to be finalized, so hopefully, you know?” Straw said. “The amount they gave me is not near enough to touch it, but we can replace some of the things that we lost, so that will be good.”
Right now, they can’t afford to rebuild.
Straw wants to bring in a modular home so her family has a place to live in until they can.
She is asking for the community’s help.
“I live to help others and so trying to ask for help is just not something I’m comfortable with but I also know reality, I can’t do this, we can’t do this on our own,” Straw said.
She started a GoFundMe and hopes to raise enough to help her and her family get a place to live.
She also has some advice for others impacted by the tornados, “Don’t give up, you can overcome it.”
Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
Clinton Mora is a reporter for Trending Insurance News. He has previously worked for the Forbes. As a contributor to Trending Insurance News, Clinton covers emerging a wide range of property and casualty insurance related stories.