Roof on Home Caves in During Storm
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BETHEL SPRINGS, Tenn. – Tuesday night when the same storm that caused the tornado in Oklahoma reached us, it was much weaker. But still, it brought a lot of rain Dottie Wilson of Bethel Springs has been dealing with storm damage since January. After Tuesday’s storm, it got worse. “I could tell by the sound of her voice it was a combination of anger and she was very emotionally distraught,” said disaster coordinator Norma Smith, who spoke with Wilson shorty after 10:30 p.m.. “And she was calling to let me know the inside portion of her ceiling had fell in.” Smith has been working with Wilson since the first storm damaged her home. With time, the problems have gotten worse, but she was always able to live there. That is, until the bedroom ceiling caved in. “It wasn’t just last night,” said Smith. “There were some spots in the roof that were left uncovered or unprotected, so over several weeks water has come in.” Neighbors who have seen Wilson struggle since the first round of storm damage said it is hard to imagine how she can deal with this latest incident. “I can’t imagine going through that,” said neighbor Martha Crowe. “I’ve lived in houses that had a leak in the roof, but it could be bucket set under that and the rest of the house would be dry. So I can’t imagine my whole house wet.” Wilson has gotten help from church groups in the past, but the problems have continued. The roof still leaked and water was going through electrical circuits, causing lights to not work and creating potential fire hazards. But at long last, Wilson will get the relief she needs.. “We do have some people coming out (Thursday) that are licensed and contracted and they’re going to start putting her house back together for her,” said Smith. Relief will be widely available in Bethel Springs in the upcoming weeks. That is due to a $175,000 grant to McNairy County from the Tennessee Development of Housing Authority. To apply for aid, contact the McNairy County Emergency Management Office at (731) 645-3195.
