Iowa Tornado Aftermath: Families Struggle with Recovery Efforts

Nearly two weeks after an EF-3 tornado wreaked havoc from Villisca to Carbon in Iowa, affected families are still grappling with the aftermath despite ongoing cleanup efforts. Kim Straw, a resident of Villisca for a decade, saw her home devastated by the tornado on May 21; a large tree was hurled into her house, leaving significant damage, and her barn was completely destroyed. Compounding the disaster, Straw’s home was uninsured due to her family’s ongoing remodeling efforts that led to their insurance being dropped for not meeting certain criteria before the tornado hit.
Straw is currently awaiting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants, which she qualified for, but has indicated that the amount promised will not fully cover her losses. As an interim solution, she hopes to acquire a modular home to provide shelter for her family while they save funds for a complete rebuild. In an effort to garner additional support, Straw has initiated a GoFundMe campaign with the aim of raising sufficient funds to secure a living space for her and her family during this challenging time.