Volunteer on-call firefighters went door-to-door Wednesday evening to distribute informational flyers to Ideal Park residents inviting them to attend a meeting Thursday night for recovery assistance.
City officials were expecting about 15 residents to attend the meeting held in the Community Building at Ideal Park Christian Reformed Church but were pleasantly surprised when the room filled up with over 60 people.
“First I have to say I am so impressed with all of you,” began Chief Carmody, Wyoming’s director of police and fire safety. “Your hard work and tireless efforts to recover from this disaster is to be commended.”
The chief went on to encourage residents to call the city with any concerns, complaints or questions in the weeks to come. “We’re going to stand shoulder to shoulder with you – that is our promise to you,” he said.
The meeting brought together representatives from the City of Wyoming, Wyoming Public Safety, Public Works and Community Service administrators to talk to the Wyoming residents hardest hit by Sunday’s tornado. The city brought in representatives from a number of trusted volunteer organizations that will provide residents assistance with removal of debris, home repairs and other challenges.
On Friday, July 11 from 2 p.m.until 6 p.m. Ideal Park residents are invited to meet individually with these representatives back in the Community Building to present their needs for assistance. The Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Team Rubicon and the National Relief Network are just a few of the organizations that will be on hand to answer questions and offer assistance.
Should residents need assistance at any time over the next several weeks, they are encouraged to call 762-333-1534. A relief service volunteer will direct them to the proper organization for help.
Officials stressed that these services are free to the residents of Ideal Park. If, in the weeks to come, someone comes to their door to collect payment for any service, residents are to call the police department. “We call these people predators,” Chief Carmody said. “Call us. We’ll take care of them.”
Other topics on the meeting’s agenda included public safety in and around Ideal Park. According to Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt, a damage survey of the park showed many of the trees still standing are damaged in the treetops posing risk of falling limbs.
“Do not go walking through the woods. Don’t let your children walk or play in the woods. Trees are still coming down, even today,” stressed Rynbrandt. “Please stay out of the park until we can get the proper machinery back there to clear the downed trees and trim the broken limbs.”
Residents were relieved to learn that the city is providing brush removal assistance to Crippen Avenue, Averill Avenue, Haughey Avenue, Buchanan Avenue south of 54th Street and 56th Street west of Division Avenue to Crippen Avenue.
“Removal of debris is of no cost to you,” Mayor Jack Poll told the crowd. “We have it in our budget for emergency situations like this.”
In addition, building permit fees for storm damaged homes will be waived for one month. Residents will still need to have all appropriate inspections and any subsequent repairs will have to be up to current code.
Starting this weekend, city building inspectors will be going through the neighborhood to identify problem structures. They can be identified by wearing white hard hats and driving city vehicles.
