VIDEO — Relief agencies arrive; damage update provided

(Click on the screen or link above to watch video interviews with the 
United Way of the Pine Belt Region and the American Red Cross.)

By Paul Keane

The Wayne County News

Relief organizations were on the ground in Beat Four Thursday afternoon, 
providing meals, cleaning supplies and other essentials to residents who 
fell victim to Wednesday night's storms and tornado.

The American Red Cross was at the Dollar General in Beat Four Wednesday 
afternoon handing out meals to residents affected by the storms. The 
United Way of the Pine Belt set up shop at the Beat Four Fire Station to 
handle out supplies of water, cleaning and hygiene products and other 
items. In addition, local organizations, residents and first responders 
donated items to be handed out, with first responders and Emergency 
Management officials — both local and from the state level — 
recording damage assessments and other pertinent information.

According to Wayne County Emergency Management Director Angela Atchison, 
75-100 homes suffered some level of damage. Of that total, 10 have been 
confirmed as totally destroyed while several received major damage.

She said this is a multi-county and multi-agency disaster and that 
organizations from around the state were responding to Wayne County. She 
also praised the many volunteers who have lent a hand, especially those 
who braved the wearer to come out and help clear roads and assist 
victims of the storm.

Many of those volunteers — with the majority representing volunteer 
fire stations throughout the county — also brought their own personal 
equipment to the scene to help remove fallen trees and debris so that 
residents trapped in their homes could be attended to.

While there were no deaths reported in the storms, a number of residents 
did receive injuries of varying extent. 

Assessments of damage are still ongoing as county officials prepare 
reports to be sent to the state for potential assistance from both MEMA 
and FEMA.

Officials said that storm victims in Beat Four are in most need of paper towels, paper plates, plastic utensils, mouthwash, hair brushes and deodorant.