INDIANA – On May 16th, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the western and the south-central parts of Monroe County were struck by an EF-2 tornado and high winds, causing the loss of homes, buildings, and property to residents.
The Board of Commissioners has signed a local disaster declaration, which is now in effect.
Debris Cleanup and Disposal
Residents affected by this storm are responsible for their own cleanup of debris. Three locations will be identified within the tornado path, with two dumpsters per site. One dumpster is for yard and tree waste, and another is for home debris. Those will only be available for two weeks, ending on Friday, June 6th. A 4th site is available by appointment only at 7740 North Fish Road, Bloomington, IN 47408. Residents can call the Monroe County Waste Reduction District at 812-349-2020 to schedule an appointment to drop off their tree and vegetation debris.
Do not drag your debris to the edge of the road, as Monroe County is not responsible for the removal
of private property debris.
One set of dumpsters will be located between Elwren and Harmony Road, another near East Jackson Creek Drive and South Sandpiper Drive, and a third at the Lighthouse Christian Academy.
Red Cross Assistance and Case Management
The American Red Cross is now accepting applications for case management in Monroe County. Monroe County residents who were impacted by the tornado can visit the American Red Cross office at 441 South College Avenue, in Bloomington, IN 47403, to apply. The location will be open to the public during the following hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekend and noon to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
Residents are asked to bring an ID and proof of address (such as an electric bill, lease, or car registration) if the address on the ID differs from the one listed.
Volunteering
Due to the damage and current hazardous conditions, please don’t spontaneously volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering to support our community’s recovery efforts, please sign up through the Bloomington Volunteer Network (BVN) at https://www.bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org/
Sign up with “MoCOAD Members and On-Call Volunteers”; You will be contacted when volunteer operations are ready to commence.
Storm Relief Supplies Available for Pick Up
There is still a limited supply of tarps and totes that are available. If you need tarps or totes, you can request them by calling the Emergency Management Office at 812-349-2533. If there is no answer, please leave a voicemail.
US Small Business Administration and State Disaster Relief Fund Assistance
The United States Small Business Administration has declared a disaster assistance declaration for Monroe County and surrounding counties.
This declaration will open up low-interest and long-term loans to help businesses, homeowners, and renters recover from the May 16th tornado. A Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be located in Monroe County, where residents who were impacted can come and apply for assistance from both the Small Business Administration and the State Disaster Relief Fund.
More information will be provided about the location and hours of this outreach center as it becomes available.
