Cleanup efforts are still underway after devastating storms hit our region earlier this month. Those storms included an EF-4 tornado that demolished several buildings in Marion.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. (WSIL)-- Cleanup efforts are still underway after devastating storms hit our region earlier this month. Those storms included an EF-4 tornado that demolished several buildings in Marion.
For some residents who live on Quarter Horse Road, they say the area that they called home will never be the same again. Chris and Jeff Bryant said after the May 16th EF-4 tornado, the trees that once surrounded their home were gone.
“I have some moments; I’ll come outside and look at my flowers and just, you know, have a breakdown and start crying,� Chris said.
Jeff says their house received structural damage, but the outside was destroyed.
“It was our little haven with the swimming pool and waterfall and things like that. You know, it's our little piece of paradise, and it's got a new view now,� Jeff said.
In a video they shared with News 3, it shows how different their lives became in a matter of seconds. After the storm passed, they went outside and could not recognize a thing.
Chris said at that time she was worried about the chickens they have and her garden.
“It's been hard. I mean, I love being outside, you know, gardening, and my chickens,� Chris said.
After the storm passed, they did find all of their chickens unharmed, but Jeff says it's due to all the volunteers; they can now move around freely and start repairing the home they built.
“We'll rebuild,� Jeff continued. “And it'll take some time. You know, we try to picture what it'll look like in a year or two years.�
But for some of their neighbors, returning home is not an option. Tom Costa says his home is a total loss.
“I'm 71. I just don't have the energy to rebuild, you know, and my wife doesn't either,� Costa said.
Costa returns every day to check on his home and his neighbors. He says his neighbors are also doing the same.
“And I was just out here yesterday, and the man back there, he's in his nineties; that was the house that fell on him, and they pulled [him out of his house]. He came by to see how I was,� Costa said.
While some homeowners have started demolition on their homes, the Williamson County Highway Department focused on clearing out the debris left by damaged trees. George Shepard is the county engineer. He told News 3 that several crews from neighboring counties and IDOT came to clear the vegetation debris.
“The southern portion from east to west was affected,� Shepard says. “But this central 20 miles was really, really heavily affected. And the devastation was pretty widespread.�
Costa and his neighbors say they are still processing how their lives have changed, but he says his family will stay in the area.
“All I can say is I appreciate everybody that comes out here to help like that,� Costa said.
Bryant says for his family, the storm will not be over until they repair their house and turn it back into their home.
