Tempe residents still reeling from the destructive Oct. 13 storm will soon have access to free recovery resources. The city announced it will open a Disaster Assistance Center on Thursday to help residents and businesses recover from the powerful microburst that tore through the community.
The center will operate from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at Community Christian Church, located at 1701 S. College Ave. There, residents can connect directly with agencies and organizations offering cleanup help, crisis counseling, food and emergency aid, emotional care, and support for veterans, tribal members, and Arizona State University students affected by the storm.
“All services are free,” the city said in a Wednesday statement, emphasizing that the goal is to streamline assistance for those most affected.
The Disaster Assistance Center follows Tempe Mayor Corey Woods’ declaration of a state of emergency, which came after the microburst displaced more than 130 residents, damaged nearly 80 buildings, and caused power outages for over 27,000 people at the storm’s peak. Both Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisorsaffirmed that the level of destruction warranted the emergency declaration.
According to the National Weather Service, the microburst produced wind speeds up to 71 miles per hour, toppling trees, ripping roofs off buildings, and even damaging the Arizona Cardinals’ practice facility. Meteorologists compared the storm’s intensity to that of a small tornado.
“This was one of the worst storms Tempe has seen in more than two decades,” Mayor Woods said earlier this week.
The Disaster Assistance Center is part of the city’s broader recovery effort, which also includes temporary housing through the American Red Cross and debris removal services.
A full list of available recovery resources can be found on the City of Tempe’s website.
