BUFFALO, N.Y. — Neighbors are coming together to clean up the damage from Wednesday’s tornado.
“It's amazing to see the different people that help out and pitch in,” said Rich Ventry, the Eden town supervisor.
On East Eden Road, people are clearing debris, chain-sawing fallen trees, raking up brush, running generators, covering windows with plywood, picking up roof shingles, and collecting house siding.
Despite their home being damaged, the Bonnes family still feels grateful.
“If we had to deal with this by ourselves, I don’t even know what we would do,” said Steve Bonnes, owner of a damaged home. “I just can’t believe all the people that are coming out to help.”
His Grand Island employer offered to bring employees to help with cleanup, Bonnes added.
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The National Weather Service said the EF-0 tornado lasted only four minutes. Despite its small size, 75 yards wide and a 0.9-mile path, it caused extensive damage.
The 85-mph winds knocked over trees, condemned houses, blew off roofs, damaged windows, destroyed power lines, collapsed car roofs, strewed sheet metal over the grass, and even broke a basketball hoop in half — scarring the ground of Eden.
The tornado’s damage was not limited to the Bonnes family.
“I believe right now we have eight [homes] that are condemned or not safe to enter,” Ventry said. “What we don't want is something worse to happen than just destruction of a home. We don't want anybody to be injured.”
He noted that the Red Cross has taken in two families, with others staying with neighbors and family. Four different locations in Eden saw damage, including parts of Jennings Road, Kickbush Gulf, Gary Drive, Sauer Road, East Eden Road, and Sisson Highway.
“It’s been such a crazy outcrying of help,” Bonnes said.
Eden firefighters, EMS, and officials volunteered to help the community clean up and get back on their feet, Ventry said.
“I would like to thank the first responders, public works employees and utility crews that have been working diligently since the storm hit yesterday afternoon,” Erie County Sheriff John Garcia said. “The damage caused by this tornado is heartbreaking, but I have no doubt the people living in the affected neighborhoods will show their resiliency as they clean up and rebuild.”
Eden is gathering information to turn into the county to apply for state and federal aid. He mentioned that some homeowners can apply for a low-rate Small Business Administration loan to repair their homes, Ventry said.
Ventry encourages anyone dealing with damage to call their town for guidance.