SUNFIELD (WSIL) -- Dozens of Perry County residents are cleaning up after an EF-1 tornado touched down Thursday afternoon.
Members of the National Weather Service surveyed the damage Friday.
Gary Harris spent Friday rebuilding and cleaning up. He says it's going to cost thousands of dollars in repairs.
"I don't think you're ever prepared for something like this. I mean it happened, and yeah, I've been through it but never like this."
Vehicles were also destroyed, and numerous power lines knocked down.
Rick Shanklin with the National Weather Service explained the Sunfield area was not the only area damaged.
"There's damage to the northeast of here. It's primarily tree damage. That's very important to look at tree damage. Sometimes that is a determining factor of the top wind or the actual peak winds that were in the tornado," said Shanklin.
He urges people to prepare for severe weather.
"This is an example of we're in the time of the year when we see the threat of severe weather ramp up as we go into the spring months, including tornadoes, so it just speaks to the fact that we all need to be prepared."
Although it might take some time to repair, Harris is optimistic.
"I'm pretty religious, and I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel. So we'll be okay."
