The historic, deadly tornado that hit St. Louis on May 16 destroyed the Williams family home, which was then condemned by the city.
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Selena Williams, a mom to 12 children ranging from ages 11 to 24, spoke to local news station Fox 2 in early June to say her family is in urgent need of long-term recovery assistance.
The report says the family stayed in a car for weeks and was then placed in an extended-stay hotel, but that help was to end on June 15.
“I’m hoping to go from here to a place we can rent,” said Williams, who mentioned that her husband kept working as a truck driver during this ordeal.
She was also afraid of people looting the few possessions that might be recoverable from their home.
The family have set up a Go Fund Me that has raised over $20,000.
“The front of our home is damaged, the roof was completely ripped off and destroyed,” says the page, which also mentions water damage on the second floor. “There are not many large affordable homes in St. Louis of 6+ bedrooms and majority of the large homes have been lived in for generations. So for my family to leave this home would be more devastating and stressful than asking for help to rebuild.”
Williams said community groups are trying to help, but many families are falling through the cracks, hers included.
“Everyone says they have resources, resources,” she told Fox 2. “But the resources they’re offering is not what I need. I need a place for us to be at home.”
She said she has not heard anything from the city but officials arrived to place bright orange stickers on the house that said entry was prohibited due to the structure being in poor condition.
The couple hopes that their story will spark change. Perhaps Missouri lawmakers need to create better protections for citizens who lose their homes to natural disasters.
Resources after your home is destroyed
If you find yourself homeless after a disaster, you can apply for relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help you get back on your feet. If you have insurance, you need to file a claim and submit the insurance settlement or denial letter to determine your eligibility for some forms of assistance.
You can also apply for help through the D-SNAP disaster food relief program, and even find government help for paying your bills.
Unfortunately, you will still owe your lender mortgage payments even if your house was condemned. You can apply for federal mortgage help or funds to cover repairs if your home is in a presidentially declared disaster area.
In addition to these federal programs, there may be state or local recovery agencies in your area that can assist you with food, housing, and other forms of support.
If your home is condemned after a natural disaster like a tornado, that means it has been deemed unsafe to live in, and may have major structural damage that could see it collapse, even if it is still standing at the time of condemnation.
Your home insurance plan should include additional living expenses coverage or ALE, which can help you secure temporary housing while you decide what to do with your home.
You retain the right to sell your house in most cases, but will have to fully disclose the nature of the damage to the buyer.
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Preparing for disasters
Swiss Re reports that global insured losses from natural catastrophes in 2024 totaled $137 billion, and are projected to approach $145 billion in 2025.
The National Centers for Environmental Information also reports that 2024 is the 14th-consecutive year in which 10 or more separate billion-dollar disaster events impacted the U.S. The annual average for the last five years is 23 events.
While homeowners insurance is a must, you may want to review it to see if coverage for certain natural disasters is excluded. Standard policies usually don’t offer coverage for flood damage and earthquakes.
If you live in a disaster-prone area, you may want to consider creating an additional emergency fund and keeping all important documents in a safe place. The federal government has a website with financial preparedness tips for rebuilding after a disaster or other emergency.
The Williams family’s experience with natural disasters is a strong reminder of the importance of being prepared with an emergency fund and comprehensive insurance:
“The first was the ice storm years ago. It broke every pipe in the house. My husband repaired that. Then there was the windstorm a few years ago. That damaged the outside of the house. We literally just got all that done in the summer of 2024, and there here we go. We get hit with this.”
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
