PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD) — After the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied the state’s initial application for disaster assistance to help people recover from the May tornadoes, emergency management officials are preparing to resubmit it with more detailed information.
More than three months have passed since a tornado destroyed a retail building at the corner of Centre Avenue and Oakland Drive in Portage.
FEMA denies disaster declaration for May 7 tornadoes
Satpal Nimana owns the building and has been navigating insurance and regulations to get the building torn down.
“I will have a brand new good building again…but emotionally, I got hurt also,” Nimana said.
Crews were working Friday to finish the demolition, which has been a process to make happen.
“You are to get the disconnections from Consumers, from the gas companies, the water and sewer disconnections,” Nimana said.
He plans to rebuild, but the costs are going beyond what insurance provides.
“To reconstruct it back in today’s time, it will be more than that. Besides that, all my other expenses are standing, like real estate property taxes, lawn care,” Nimana said.