GALESBURG, Mich. — Nearly a week after a tornado with winds reaching 80 miles per hour ravaged Galesburg, city leaders approved a plan to help the community begin to recover with hopes that the crucial funds being spent upfront can be restored through federal, state, or county grants so that the city is not left in a vulnerable position.
The storm left the community without power for days and caused extensive damage, particularly on the north side of the tracks, according to city officials.
Brad Carpenter, a Galesburg resident, described the devastation in what he calls his “blue-collar” neighborhood on the “wrong side” of the tracks, saying, “I saw the whole neighborhood was decimated.”
Carpenter’s home, like several of his surrounding neighbors, had a tree bust through his roof and many others fall down around in his yard.
- Previous coverage:Galesburg residents face major cleanup after storms uproot trees and down power lines
Mayor Linda Marble highlighted the challenges the city faces, noting that the local compost site, intended for year-round use by residents, is now overwhelmed with tree debris. “We can’t bring any more in because people have been bringing in so much,” Marble told News Channel 3…