It’s been exactly two weeks since the devastating Andover Tornado left hundreds of people without homes. Now, as insurance claims get sorted out and finalized, the next step might be a waiting game – trying to find a builder. Andover resident Garrett Owen didn’t know where to start after the tornado flattened his house. “I couldn’t get to the house. There were trees down everywhere,” said Owen. But instead of waiting around, he took matters into his own hands, renting a giant excavator and learning how to use it along the way. “Watching YouTube, and I talked to a couple of people that know how to do it,” said Owen. He’s now almost completely done cleaning up, but it’s the next step he’s worried about.
Source: KAKE – News

While many areas of the country are reporting improvements in the housing market, it’s the complete opposite here in Wichita. New data from South Central Kansas MLS says the housing supply is lower than it’s ever been, leaving people like Andover Tornado victims who need immediate housing nowhere to turn. “That’s been a huge need. We have some families that have been displaced and have moved on to other family members, but we’ve also seen a lot of families that are temporarily housed in a hotel or motel,” said Dulcy Palnau with The Salvation Army. Palnau has been working with families every day since the Andover tornado, and right now, she says one of the biggest needs is housing.
Source: KAKE – News