GRIFFITH | A Griffith committee tasked to review the town's response to last week's tornado will investigate whether warning sirens alerted people of the approaching twister.
"I don't believe the sirens were going off," Town Council President Rick Ryfa said. "I've talked to many residents, and each of them said they didn't hear it."
Police Chief Ron Kottka has said the town activated the sirens three separate times, but perhaps the storm overpowered the sound. Town officials now are unsure whether a siren closest to the neighborhood where the tornado touched down was functioning.
"Maybe it was struck by lightning," Ryfa said. "The Town Council is going to investigate it. ... This is one issue we're going to be taking very serious."
Residents in Griffith, Highland, Munster and Hammond, whose homes and property sustained the brunt of the damage from the storm, continue to recover.
"All customers are back in service," Larry Graham, spokesman for NIPSCO, said early Monday morning.
State Farm and Allstate both had mobile units in the region to handle claims.
State Farm handled 2,031 claims over the course of the week, a number that's expected to increase as people discover more damage to their homes, spokeswoman Missy Lundberg said.
Allstate plans to close its mobile unit at the end of the day today, because customer traffic has slowed down, said spokesman Mike Siemienas.
Both companies were able to write checks to customers whose coverage allowed them to buy necessities like food, clothes and diapers.
Lake County commissioners are expected to declare a disaster area at its study session Wednesday.
"We're definitely going to do it," said Commissioner Gerry Scheub, D-Schererville.
Gov. Mitch Daniels took action to request a disaster declaration for Lake County from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The same benefits would be available to Porter, Jasper and Newton counties.
If a declaration is granted, low-interest loans of up to $200,000 could be available to homeowners, private businesses and nonprofit groups whose property was damaged or destroyed in the storms.
Also, up to $40,000 may be available to homeowners and renters to repair or replace damaged personal property. The disaster loans apply only to damages not covered by insurance.
Residents continue to rely on volunteers to help in the cleanup.
A group of Boy Scouts conducted well-being checks in Griffith on Friday. Saturday, an organized effort sent a group of 45 to 50 people into the community to help homeowners, Ryfa said.
Sunday, Griffith Boy Scout Troop 264 distributed lunches to residents hit by the storm. The 500 lunches were supplied by Tom and Pam Bock, who own T&S Catering in Griffith.
Volunteer crews from Home Depot on Monday helped clear debris and make household repairs.
"The saddest part was picking up people's lives and putting them in the Dumpster," said volunteer James Moore.
Residents like Scott DeLauro are grateful for the help. Volunteers filled a trash receptacle with debris from DeLauro's yard.
DeLauro used a week of vacation time from work to clean up.
"I'm ready for it to be over," he said. "But we've got a long way to go."
DeLauro, and his wife, Patti DeLauro, said they were disappointed they haven't seen more Griffith town vehicles in the area. They've mostly seen county and state crews.
Ryfa said that Griffith is working in cooperation with those agencies.
"Every piece of machinery and truck owned by Griffith is out in the streets," he said.
Different vehicles and pieces of heavy equipment were dispatched to different parts of town, which is why some residents might not see any town vehicles in their neighborhood, he said.
