The aftermath: long term response the Tornado Recovery Center.

The Tornado Recovery Center was established in Windsor, Connecticut after a sudden tornado struck the town in October 1979. Its purpose was to provide one year of follow up services to home owners, farmers and the business community whose homes and livelihood had been damaged by the tornado. The goals of the Center were clear: to provide financial guidance, counselling, information and referral and client advocacy. In time, it also focused on a variety of other areas, such as housing relocation, reforestation, and public works projects. The Center was also responsible for ongoing volunteer solicitation and co-ordination, and for developing several recreational and educational programs. It also published and distributed an information newsletter for victims. By providing these services, the Center allowed local government to fully resume operations that had been delayed by the disaster. The Center also co-operated with a number of state and local agencies on a variety of public works projects, such as controlling erosion, by co-ordinating an erosion team to assist home owners who lived along a storm damaged ravine