Cleanup efforts continue, families displaced and communities rebuild: Wednesday marks one week since EF3 tornado
Cleanup efforts are still getting underway in Dortches a week after an EF3 tornado devastated Edgecombe and Nash counties.
Some people say they still don't know when support will arrive.
Dorris Harrison said she needs help. She was inside her home in Dortches when the tonrado arrived, which damaged the roof and walls of her home.
"I just sat down on the floor and I just started talking to God," she said. "When I finally came out and they had me at the highway and I looked around, I said 'Oh, my God. I was in there?'"
Harrison's home is one of more than 100 damaged by the tornado in Edgecombe and Nash counties. She is facing thousands in repair costs. A week later, Harrison said she and her neighbors haven't been told how to get help.
"Why is it taking so long?" Harrison said. "It's a week. Everybody should be over it now.
"Help these people get back in their homes."
As of Wednesday, the state is still working on an evaluation of the damage. The state is still working on an evaluation of the damage and could have information about disaster relief funds by the end of the week.
The United Way has organized a relief fund, hoping to raise $500,000. As of Wednesday evening, they've raised about $25,000. The organization can't open the fund to families in need until more donations come in.
Also, the city of Rocky Mount is offering help with housing repairs and utility costs for tornado victims.
You can help the people who were living in the tornado's path. The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce and United Way have setup the Twin County Tornado Disaster Relief Fund. Anyone can donate and 100% of the money goes to people affected by the tornado.
Watermelon plant faces months of repairs after NC tornado damage
A watermelon process plant is facing several months of work for repairs after last week’s EF3 tornado devastated Edgecombe and Nash counties.
Number One Construction Owner Steve May is working to help repair damage to a watermelon plant along Morning Star Church Road, which is also known as State Road 1412. The site is between Old Battleboro Road and East Battleboro Avenue.
May said he’s focused on getting the watermelon facility at Boseman Farms back up and running as quickly as possible. He said reopening the facility is important to him and he is hoping it takes about three months.
“Sometimes, instead of working eight hours a day, you have to work 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week just to get things done,” May said.
Boseman Farms supplies tobacco, sweet potatoes, watermelon and other produce.
On Tuesday, WRAL News saw insurance appraisers and others at the site to assess the damage.
May said it will likely cost between $3 million and $4 million to repair the watermelon plant.
“They have a hard enough time making it,” May said. “Then, something like this comes knocking at the door.”
The owner of the watermelon processing plant owns several plots of land in the area.
May is also a contractor for the nearby Pfizer plant that is closed indefinitely due to the tornado damage.
