Red Cross Helps Eastman Family Recover From Severe Storms

EASTMAN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – An Eastman family is recovering after severe storms destroyed their home last week. The Woodard family says they would have been completely lost if it weren’t for the help of the community and the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

Connie Woodard and her family are cleaning up the aftermath of the severe storms that tore through Peach State last Wednesday night.

“The pressure from it, you could just tell there was so much pressure in the house and the wind really does sound like the freight train like everyone talks about,” Woodard said.

The storm only lasted a few minutes, but the damage to their home will take weeks to fix. Severe weather knocked out their power and water. High winds ripped off their back porch roof and tossed it onto the home. The roof of the family’s shed flew off and landed in their front yard

“When something like that happens, you just don’t realize the impact that it has and all of a sudden you can’t stay in your home,” she said.

That’s when the Central Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross stepped in. The organization put the family in a hotel, gave them food, and offered support during this scary and difficult time.

“Basically there for support, to let them know we are there, you’re not in this alone and we’ll be there till the very end,” Chris Rogers with American Red Cross said. “Just someone to talk to, someone to lean on. We’ll always be there. One call and we’ll be there.”

And that’s a call the Woodard family is grateful for.

“For someone to come in whose dealt with situations like that and to be able to help you and guide you, it really meant a lot,” Woodard said.

Crews are fixing up the Woodard’s home. The kitchen had severe water damage and they are repairing the roof. It could take up to six weeks before the Woodard family can move back into their home.