Chamber: 120 Selma businesses damaged in tornado are relocating, reopening

The bad news is that more than 100 businesses were damaged in the Jan. 12 tornado. The good news is that most of them are rebuilding or relocating, according to Selma Dallas County Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheryl Smedley.  

“We started on Dallas Avenue and followed the track all the way through downtown Selma and outlying areas,” Smedley said. “We counted over 120 businesses with actual damage.” The number is even higher if you include businesses that took a loss because they were without power for an extended time, she said.   

Smedley said she is seeing most of the damaged businesses rebuilding or relocating.  

One example is Gilmer’s Land Management on Broad Street. Their building, located next to Henderson Chiropractor, was destroyed. Smedley said they are relocating on the other end of Broad Street next to Broad Street Books. She said Lena’s Florist was also destroyed and is also blooming next to Broad Street Books.   

“What I’m hearing from business owners is that it’s hard to get anybody to come and fix what you’ve already got,” Smedley said. “So, if property is available for businesses to relocate and not go through all the reconstruction, that’s what they are doing.”   

A few businesses have not reopened, including the Firestone store on Broad Street that has a front made of all glass. The glass also broke in Hurricane Zeta in October 2020 and had been replaced before the January storm.  

“I’m reaching out to the district manager to see what they will do,” Smedley said. “I can’t see them not reopening. They’ve been here for so many years” and were doing good business.  

Smedley praised SBA Public Affairs Specialist Sharon Dooley, whom she said is making a great effort to reach out to everyone effected to let them know how the SBA can help.  

Smedley said if there are any businesses that still need help, they can call the Chamber of Commerce at 334-875-7241 or call the SBA at 703-895-1148.