Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, March 8, 2012
(SELLERSBURG) - A disaster assistance center opened in Clark County on Wednesday to help tornado survivors secure important government documents lost in last week’s storm.
Instead of making resident travel to area agencies to get copies of their birth certificates and driver's licenses, state officials and charity groups set up a one-stop-shop on the Ivy Tech campus in Sellersburg.
Resident Brenda Shepard said her van was totaled during the storm and she needed help securing vehicle documents, RTV6's Stacia Matthews reported.
"It looks like someone threw softballs through the windows. I've never seen hail that big in my life," Shepard said. "I only have liability on my van, so it doesn't cover that kind of damage. I hope they can point me in the direction so I can get help. I can't get to work. I can't go anywhere. It was totaled.
Resolving insurance matters is just one of the services offered at the center. After checking in, Hoosiers are directed to specific stations to get the help they need.
Rob Wynkoop with the Indiana Department of Administration said officials are trying to make the process of securing necessary documents as easy as possible.
"There are so many things (survivors) are dealing with and to have to go to a variety of locations to get a variety of different services to take care of can be painful. We're just trying to ease the pain a little bit," Wynkoop said.
Shepard said being able to get help in one central location is one less thing she has to worry about and she also plans to sign up for unemployment at the center.
"(Everything) being in one place is great," Shepard said.
The disaster assistance center will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week through March 17.
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