There are wounds that still haven’t fully healed five years after the Memorial Day tornadoes

After the tornadoes, our neighborhood rallied with resilience

I would like to focus on the good that came from this terrible event. Immediately after the storm, the whole neighborhood came together. Within days, neighborhood leaders had coordinated with city officials to orchestrate a massive trash cleanup. This brought many new partners into our network who have worked with us ever since, like Declare Dayton, which continues to host citywide cleanups each spring. Local stores immediately started donating bottled water because even those who did not suffer material damage were left without electricity and water for days. Representative Phil Plummer showed up with an entire pallet of water and from there on out we had Dayton Kids coordinating other donations that flooded the neighborhood. Of course, FEMA and other state and federal agencies arrived immediately to begin coordinating their resources. The Salvation Army Kroc Center was there from day one and for many months using their resources and campus for outreach. And we had a host of examples of small (sometimes one-person) local organizations bringing boots on the ground helping however they could.

Read more from contributor Matt Tepper

Trotwood will continue to rebuild stronger than before

Over the years, Trotwood has made tremendous progress in rebuilding what was lost. Through the collective efforts of residents and volunteers, many homes have been rebuilt, businesses have reopened and essential infrastructure has been restored. The scars of the disaster are still visible, but they serve as a reminder of the resilience and resilience of the community. However, the work is far from over. There are still areas in Trotwood where the wounds caused by the Memorial Day tornadoes have yet to fully heal. Some families are still facing the challenges of finding permanent housing. Reconstruction efforts remain ongoing, with a focus on ensuring that every member of the community is supported on their journey to recovery.

Read more from contributor Norman J. Scearce

A home should be a place to live in peace, safety and dignity

More than 800 properties were destroyed, forcing thousands to find temporary shelter. While a number of rental units in the blighted area were eventually replaced, many of the new units are no longer affordable for low- to moderate-income residents. The temporary and permanent loss of affordable housing in parts of Dayton affected by the tornado provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the larger issue facing the region.

Read more from contributors Dr. John Malas and Dr. Sue Sack