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A former Dallas County High School graduate was the guest speaker at the Selma Rotary Club on Monday and described what she has encountered while working to help residents recover from recent storm damage.

Sheronda Armstrong, a Disaster Response Outreach Worker with three different organizations, discussed her temporary job as a collaborative outreach of the Dallas County Long Term Recovery Committee, United Methodist Committee on Relief Case Management, Lutheran Disaster Response, and the Black Belt Community Foundation.

A 1991 graduate of Dallas County High School, Armstrong said it’s been a challenge trying to help Selma and Dallas County residents recover from the Jan. 12 tornado.
Armstrong also said that her caseload of 479 residents in Selma and Dallas County was rejected by FEMA.

“Some people still have needs,” Armstrong said. “There’s a lot of work still left to do.”

Armstrong said she received a shock while out on the field last week.

“For the first time, someone told me they were homeless,” Armstrong said. “I’ve never had someone tell me while doing this they were homeless. I don’t have all the answers.”

Armstrong said she doesn’t have an office. Her temporary offices range from Wallace Community College-Selma to the Selma-Dallas County Public Library.
Armstrong also said that she will have the job for the next few months. Armstrong said she can be reached at 334-349-4981  to help residents apply for disaster relief needs.

“I always answer my phone,” Armstrong said.