Catawba County community hit by devastating tornado looking for help with recovery
CLAREMONT, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — People living in a Claremont community devastated by a tornado are asking for help with clean up and recovery. The EF1 tornado hit a neighborhood Jan. 9, where residents and crew continue cleaning up more than a week later.
The Catawba County community hit by the storm and still has tarps covering roofs and windows over homes. Some that were reduced to rubble have already been hauled away.
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Tammy Yates lives on Evening Drive two doors down from where 39-year-old Dustin Weaver was killed under the rubble of his home. Yates considered him family, and that the physical and emotional scars of the storm are open.
“I’ve lost seven buildings,” she said. “Maybe my house wasn’t damaged but my vehicles were, and my buildings were and everything underneath them are gone.”
It’s about more than just the structural damage.
“I lost my son, he’s moving away,” Yates said. “I lost my other son, he’s passed away, and my best friend says she’s leaving, so no, it’s not getting any better.”
Whipping winds on Friday afternoon blew dust and debris through the air down Evening Drive, but they were nothing compared to the 110 mph winds from the tornado last Tuesday.
“What about the next storm that comes through? What happens then?” Yates asked. “We got trees half on our homes we lost a lot. It was over so fast, you hear a train coming, next second you hear stuff hitting the house.”
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State Emergency Management assessors walked the area Friday evaluating the monetary value of the storm’s damage. Volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse, the American Red Cross and local businesses are also helping with the cleanup.
“All this stuff that they’ve lost, everything down here, it’s a tragedy, you know,” said Brandon Munsun, owner of Bee’s Tree and Stump Removal looking over the scene. “So, there’s still a lot of cleanup to do. This is such a mess; it’s the biggest mess I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s just something you never want to see.”
Pieces of siding are scattered across the area and piles of trees are stacked in yards. The storm took minutes to pass through, but damage could take months to repair.
Yates hopes to get financial help soon. She says many residents couldn’t afford insurance and now are left on the hook for the cost of repairs.
“We need money,” Yates said. “I hate to say it like that, but when you don’t have a check that don’t make it in this month, what’s these people supposed to do? We all are devastated. This is the biggest storm I’ve ever been in.”
State assessors will determine whether any aid will be available based on their assessment of the damages. The county expects to hear an update within the next several days.
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Gov. Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency before the storm, opening the possibility for state resources. Cooper has not toured the damage, but a spokeswoman sent a statement addressing his support.
“The Governor and Emergency Management officials have closely monitored recent severe weather and issued executive orders to prepare for and respond to damage. State Emergency Management Officials have been involved in conducting damage assessments in Claremont and routinely in touch with local leaders in impacted areas following severe storms to determine what state help may be available for recovery. We will be in touch if a public visit to the area is announced.”
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