SULLIVAN, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Seeing a need still unmet, the Indiana United Way’s Natural Disaster Fund has awarded $2.7 million for Sullivan County tornado relief.

The United Way of the Wabash Valley made the announcement Monday morning, the group said the funding was awarded to help the Sullivan County Long-Term Tornado Recovery Coalition (SCLTTRC) with assisting residents in the recovery process.

“We are grateful to Indiana United Ways, and that organization’s primary funder, for recognizing the devastation in Sullivan County and granting these additional relief and recovery funds,” Director of SCLTTRC Richard Payonk said. “Our local donors have been tremendous, but this grant will now make it possible to take our recovery efforts so much farther than we had hoped. We currently have over 70 open cases needing everything from internal or external repairs to a full home rebuild. These grant funds will make it possible to not only help the most in-need cases, but now to also address many who have scratched and clawed to rebuild, but had to drain their own savings or dip into a 401k and may continue to struggle financially.”

“We are delighted to be able to utilize our partnerships to help provide $2.73 million in additional funding to those affected by the Sullivan tornado,” Co-Executive Director of the UWWV Abby Desboro said. “Our work across the community is centered around lifting those in need up and creating ways to prosperity. With this additional grant funding the SCLTTRC will be able to help many more families that are still working to rebuild their lives.”

Desboro described the process of those involved in the tornado relief efforts.

“They have a structure of process in place so this can go to those 70 open cases that they still have to provide anything from simple house repairs to some need total home rebuild so this will be a great financial influx for the tornado relief,” Desboro said.

The UWWV is a member of Indiana United Ways which connects 42 of the state’s 44 United Way organizations. For more information regarding the SCLTTRC visit them online here.