Autryville is hoping for help three days after a tornado tore through the town of 200. Mike Causey, the North Carolina Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal, visited the Autryville fire station Friday. He saw what remained after winds ripped the roof off and toppled walls onto fire engines.
Autryville Mayor Larry Autry said the damage doesn’t come close to qualifying for FEMA relief, but the toppled trees around town are still a significant impact. He asked the Sampson County Commissioners and Emergency Management Division for assistance.
“They’re trying to hook me up with some state help, state funding to get that in place. They’re supposed to be making some phone calls this afternoon, and I hope that I’ll hear from somebody,” Autry said.
The fire chief set up an online donation page at GoFundMe.com as he waits to hear about insurance and aid from state agencies.
Causey said he thinks there will be some sort of help coming from state emergency funds, but he doesn’t know what may be available from funds previously established for flooding and wildfire relief.