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Microburst victims seek aid at new Tempe assistance center

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Published  October 23, 2025 5:08pm MST
Severe Weather
FOX 10 Phoenix
Tempe opens disaster center for microburst victims

Tempe opens disaster center for microburst victims

The city of Tempe opened a Disaster Assistance Center to help victims of the recent microburst get help with everything from food and shelter to utilities and construction. FOX 10's Brian Webb reports.

The Brief

    • The city of Tempe opened a Disaster Assistance Center to help hundreds of residents impacted by the Oct. 13 microburst, offering access to a dozen organizations that provide aid ranging from food and shelter to utility assistance and construction help.
    • The center, which marks a shift from the city's initial focus on immediate life safety, also features agencies like the Registrar of Contractors to warn victims against fraud from unlicensed "storm chasers" seeking to profit from the damage.

TEMPE, Ariz. - The city of Tempe opened a Disaster Assistance Center to help victims of the recent microburst get help with everything from food and shelter to utilities and construction.

What we know:

About a dozen organizations, including the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), circled the conference room, offering services to hundreds of residents impacted by the Oct. 13 storm.

"I came here today to see if I could get some assistance with one of my fences at my property that was blown down," said resident Steve Boyd.

Monique Rodriguez, interim emergency manager for the City of Tempe, said the city's initial focus on life safety and utilities has shifted to offering broader resources.

City works with 70 businesses hit by Tempe microburst

City works with 70 businesses hit by Tempe microburst

A microburst caused significant damage to dozens of small businesses in Tempe, particularly concentrated at a commercial complex. The city reported that a total of 70 companies were impacted by the powerful storm. FOX 10's Lindsey Ragas has the details.

"So our initial efforts were focused on life safety," Rodriguez said. "We believe that we’ve been able to assist most of those utilities in getting back in action, and then we shifted our focus to what other resources we can offer."

Agencies like the Arizona Registrar of Contractors Office are also present to guard against fraud.

"We have storm chasers that are probably coming out here and parading around, masquerading around that they may be this licensed entity," said Alex Figueroa of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors Office, urging residents to check licenses.

Boyd was optimistic after his visit, saying, "Fortunately, I think I’m on the right pathway, so I’m glad I came."

Related

Center opens for microburst victims still without gas, A/C
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Center opens for microburst victims still without gas, A/C

Nine days after a microburst in Tempe, residents at a heavily damaged apartment complex are still without basic utilities like gas and air conditioning.

What you can do:

The Disaster Assistance Center will be open until 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 1701 S. College Avenue in Tempe.

The Source

  • FOX 10's Brian Webb reported on this story by interviewing Monique Rodriguez, interim emergency manager for the City of Tempe, Tempe resident Steve Boyd and Alex Figueroa of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors Office.

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