‘I don’t have anything but my flashlights:’ Henry neighbors still looking for help after storms

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — Federal relief is on its way for seven of Georgia’s hardest-hit counties. Neighbors in Henry County say it can’t come soon enough.

Channel 2′s Bryan Mims was at the Indian Creek Mobile Home Park in Henry County on Tuesday where crews are still working to get power restored to the community nearly a week after severe storms moved through.

Elizabeth Taylor told Mims that she’s still living in the dark and cold.

“I don’t have anything. I don’t have heat. I don’t have water. I don’t have anything but my flashlights,” she said.

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Her home was not seriously damaged, but she is surrounded by fallen pine trees and homes that were damaged or destroyed.

Jonathan Spain, who lost a shed in the storm, says they need the federal assistance.

“110%. We’ve got lights turned off, water’s off. I mean, the community is coming together. They’re cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner at the shelter,” Spain said.

The federal help includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs. It also provides low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. Funding is available to state and local governments and non-profits.

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Much of the Indian Creek Mobile Home Park looks like a disaster zone with trees snapped and splintered, cars mangled and homes crumbled.

Christa McCarty’s home narrowly missed getting crushed by a tree. She says federal assistance is a must for storm-battered communities.

“What do you think that will mean for you and your neighbors?,” Mims asked her.

“Hopefully rebuilding. I’ve got a good community here and a lot of people lost a whole lot, some lost all,” she replied.

The federal disaster declaration makes federal funding available to people in Butts, Henry, Jasper, Meriwether, Newton, Spalding and Troup counties who were affected by storms and tornadoes.

Neighbors say they have been blessed by the outpouring of support from the community.

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Lack of power keeping Spalding schools from reopening following last week’s storms Channel 2′s Veronica Griffin learned that the schools being closed are keeping some students from having at least two meals a day that they can depend on.

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