[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 15, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING MERCY VILLAGE APARTMENTS OF JOPLIN, MISSOURI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 2012

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mercy Village 
Apartments, of Joplin, Missouri, which is welcoming its residents home 
after being damaged in the devastating F 5 tornado of May 22, 2011.
  For nearly 30 years, Mercy Housing has been committed to developing 
affordable, program-enriched housing for low-income families, seniors 
and people with special needs who lack the economic resources to access 
quality, safe housing opportunities. To date, Mercy Housing has 
participated in the development, preservation and financing of more 
than 40,000 affordable homes and an additional 7,309 homes are in the 
pre-development, construction or concept phase.
  The day of the tornado, residents and staff worked together to get 
everyone to safety, even carrying wheelchairs down three flights of 
stairs. Thankfully, no one was hurt. One resident who was especially 
lucky to survive was 82-year-old Bonnie Betz. When Bonnie was awakened 
from her nap by the tornado sirens, she immediately started to move 
downstairs to shelter. The entire wall of the stairwell was torn away 
from the building by the tornado. She clung to the banister and was 
lifted off her feet, yet despite her arthritic hands, was able to 
literally hold on for her life. A structural engineer later said that 
without the good design and extra structural reinforcement Mercy 
Housing added when they built Mercy Village in 2005, the story might 
have a different ending.
  I would therefore like to commend Mercy Housing for its hard work and 
dedication. Because of them, Joplin seniors can remain in the community 
they call home.

                          ____________________