PARKERSBURG, IA - A year ago a twister destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes in the communities of Parkersburg, New Hartford, and Dunkerton. Tuesday night those communities are among a half dozen which learned they will share in some newly approved disaster recovery money. Parkersburg will receive $750,000, New Hartford will get $200,000, and Dunkerton is expecting $50,000. It's part of more than a million dollars to make up for lost property tax revenue.
Parkersburg's leaders said the money is needed. They're still in the middle of the reconstruction process. And after all this time, the memories of the tornado are still fresh in the minds of Parkersburg's mayor and police chief. Chief Chris Luhring told KIMT News 3 he can still smell the stench of ruin from the moments after the storm hit. However, the days immediately after the tornado hit, are still a sort of blur for Chief Luhring.
He explained, "there was no morning, there was no afternoon, there was no evening. Everything was just mushed together."
But there was never a question of rebuilding - simply a matter of how quickly it could start.
"It wasn't our goal to do it rapid in the wrong way, but rapid in the right way," Luhring said.
One of the first places to reopen was the local gas station.
Mayor Robert Haylock said the community needed the resources it provides as soon as possible, "I told them, you guys take care of this building, I'll take care of the permits."
But replacing hundreds of homes from scratch, takes a little longer. And when it comes to the city budget, that time is money.
Haylock recounted, "it actually destroyed 49% of our property tax base in 60 seconds."
The mayor said they'll notice the loss in next year's budget. But the good news is, the majority of families are refusing to let the storm drive them out of their hometown. All but one hundred families, of the 282 displaced, are now living in their new surroundings, on a familiar lot. And about 60 more are ready to start shoveling.
Haylock noted, "you can't imagine how some of these people can suffer such a loss, and live through it, and just go on and rebuild."
Chief Luhring said there are still a lot of things he's concerned about. But the future of their town, isn't one of them.
"I guess I have faith that endures, and a trust that the same God that protected us during the tornado will protect us after the tornado. And I don't think that, I know that will be true," said Chief Luhring.
