FEMA back in Greenfield as businesses help with rebuilding the city

GREENFIELD, Iowa — Representatives from FEMA are in town again this week at the True Value Hardware Store. The purpose this week is to advise people on ways to rebuild their homes after a tornado, and do so, safely.

“We are here in the city of Greenfield providing free information on how to rebuild better and stronger when you repair your house or business,” said John Ortega, a FEMA worker, who is here during business hours through Friday.

At the True Value Hardware Store, they have been busy selling supplies to people in town. This business was open for business when the tornado struck.

“But it ended up finally shutting the power off and then when the power shut off, then we can hear it, once we can hear it then we went to the office, said Dan Wallace, the store owner. “That’s probably the safest location in this building.”

At Greenfield Lumber they heard a storm was coming, owner Jimmy Freeland hunkered down on the east side of the building.

“You know, we’re just getting railed, the roof disappears, I hear this giant woosh sound as the roof disappears above me where I was,” said Freeland.

The only lumber store in town was seeing its products leave the shelves within minutes.

“The Sheriff’s Department we had county guys, we had random guys coming in looking for spray paint, trying to check houses cause they’re gonna start run around to check houses,” said Freeland. “We were just handing stuff out, and they’re like trying to throw money on us like, no just get out like this is an emergency.”

At the hardware store there was also a demand for product.

“Just a lot of building materials was the main thing, ” said Wallace. “A lot of screws and things to button up their buildings and houses.”

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