National Weather Service confirms EF-1 tornado in Warner Robins

“So we’re sitting there and the next thing you know, it sounded like this God-awful freight train coming down the road.”

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Dozens of volunteers are helping clean up neighborhoods in Warner Robins after last week’s violent storms.

http://www.41nbc.com/2016/04/01/houston-county-residents-clean-storm/

The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado hit the area on Friday.

After the storm, comes the relief.

“I think the worst may be a cracked window,” Myrandah Fulk described of her home in Warner Robins. She and her boyfriend spent Monday morning clearing broken branches and debris from her backyard.

Volunteers are signing up and chopping down what’s left in the aftermath of the tornado. Groups part of the Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters split up roles and started the clean up process.

“It’s awfully encouraging to know that there’s people wanting to help people,” Mayor Randy Toms said about the efforts.

Fulk was inside her sister’s closet their home in Warner Robins when they heard the tornado touch down.

“So we’re sitting there and the next thing you know, it sounded like this God-awful freight train coming down the road,” she said.

Now mangled branches and scattered leaves blanket her backyard and what was a tool shed.

“Literally, you saw the rain going from the left to the right and you knew something was wrong,” Fulk said.

Volunteers are clearing the roadways of trees throughout the city.

“They’ll go out and they’re able to cut the trees and get the debris to the roadway which allows the public works agency to remove that debris and take it to the landfills,” Chief Jimmy Williams, Houston County’s EMA Director, said.

Emergency management agencies from Houston County and the state mapped out the storms path and are sending helpers to several zones to move debris.

“Most damage is debris removal where we’re actually in the yards and other things. It just needs to be taken care of,” Williams said.

Damage to property and to belongings, but leaders say it could’ve been much worse.

“It’s just been encouraging to watch employees and volunteers join together and tackle what could’ve been a much worse situation,” Toms said.

Chief Williams says he plans on having volunteers out clearing up roadways and neighborhoods for the rest of the week.