Two dumpsters and four portable toilets have been made available for residents of Twin Lakes to use as cleanup continues after the tornado that made its way through the area on May 7.

As part of an emergency meeting held on May 9, Cass County Commissioners voted to approve the use of $25,000 in county funds for disaster relief. That money was split between the purchase of the dumpsters and four portable toilets for residents who do not have water.

The 40-yard dumpsters are being placed at Voas Park, at the corner of Twin Shores and Park Court in Dowagiac. The county says trees, branches, and other vegetation can be discarded at the Cass County Road Commission’s Twin Lakes pit, located at the corner of Twin Lakes Road and Morton Court in Dowagiac. There is no cost to use the dumpsters, and they are available on a first-come first-served basis.

“As chair of the board, I wanted to represent the entire board and support those affected in the county,” said Jeremiah Jones, chair of the Board of Commissioners. “We are a tight-knit community and it’s what we do as neighbors.”

Commissioner Ryan Laylin, who represents the Twin Lakes area, thanked those assisting with damage assessment and emergency management efforts.

“Thanks to Emergency Management Coordinator Manny DeLaRosa, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the Cass County Road Commission, and MEC for their hard work getting the Twin Lakes area cleaned up quickly,”Laylin said. “I am proud to represent a district that works together in difficult times and look forward to supporting front-line workers as they continue to clean up the area.”