Just how much monetary damage a Feb. 23 tornado and days of flooding caused is still being determined as city, county and state officials continue to coordinate recovery and assessment efforts.

At a meeting of public officials Wednesday, Columbus Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency Director Cindy Lawrence said the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency will likely not complete damage assessments until Friday. While a flooding assessment has been completed, she said EMA won’t know how much it cost until it’s combined with the costs of the tornado damage. Only once there’s been a number attached to both flooding and the storm can Columbus and Lowndes County officials request state and federal funding to aid with clean-up.

Lawrence asked officials present at the meeting to continue to encourage residents to report their needs to volunteers at the Trotter, even if they or their property were not harmed during the flooding or tornado. Every report received will help MEMA decide what amount of funding to request from the federal government.

Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Cherie Labat said the spring break programs typically held at Sim Scott Park will be relocated to the Townsend Community Center. She added the district is currently looking for spaces to relocate after-school programs held at the Columbus Success Academy, which was partially destroyed by the tornado, for the next two years while the school building, formerly Hunt High School, is repaired.

Columbus Light and Water general manager Todd Gale said the CLW has removed meters from 87 homes that have either been destroyed or so damaged that they cannot receive electricity. CLW workers are still in the process of cleaning up damaged poles and power lines.

Lawrence also expressed frustration about snags in volunteer operation and coordination, stressing churches and other local businesses who want to assist victims of flooding and the tornado need to coordinate their outreach efforts with other groups.

“If we have everyone serving at the same time, then everyone’s going to run out of food or money at the same time,” she said. “And then where are we? There is no (assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency) now. There is no state or federal assistance as of now. This is long term. We have to take care of each other on our own right now.”

United Way director Renee Sanders said that volunteers that have registered at the Trotter to assist with clean-up and repair efforts have been called out to homes where there is little to no damage, effectively wasting those volunteers’ time.

“These are people who are just trying to see what they can get for free,” Sanders said. “Someone called our volunteers out and just wanted them to put a new roof on their home. It’s a shame that people are taking advantage.”

Sanders added that volunteers will continue to be sent out in response to calls for assistance, but reminded volunteer agencies to be mindful of where volunteers are going.

“If they’re being sent somewhere in New Hope, that has nothing to do with the tornado,” she said. “So look at the addresses and what we know about where the damage is first.”

Lawrence said residents are frustrated that volunteer agencies can’t fulfill their need for financial support. The need for food, water or shelter is diminishing, but the financial burden many residents incurred is becoming more prevalent. Volunteer agencies in Columbus and Lowndes County cannot provide financial assistance for those affected by the tornado and flooding. Only state and federal agencies can do that.

“I tell them, if FEMA comes, they can provide financial assistance,” Lawrence said. “But we can’t do that. They don’t understand that.”

There are still five residents staying overnight at the temporary shelter inside the Townsend Community Center, said Red Cross Regional Philanthropy Officer Michael Upton. Red Cross caseworkers are working with them to transition them out of the shelter, which will close at noon on Friday.

“Three of the residents have already expressed that they have a place to stay,” Upton said. “We’re working on getting them transitioned to somewhere more permanent so we can be out of the center by Friday evening.”

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