Recovery efforts continue after EF-1 tornado devastated Edwardsburg
EDWARDSBURG, Mich. — Recovery efforts are ongoing in Cass County after an EF-1 tornado blew through Edwardsburg on Friday, March 6th.
ABC57 went door to door checking on the community, asking how they're doing and how their recovery efforts are working out. Many people shared they're grateful to be alive and are taking the process of restoring their home "one day at a time."
Thursday evening from 4 p.m. To 7 p.m., storm victims were able to come to the Edwardsburg Branch Library to find out what resources are available to them at a one-time multi agency event. Organizations like American Red Cross, Department of Insurance and Financial Services, After The Storm and the Salvation Army were at the library along with several other organizations.
The organizations' resources aim to help with the many uprooted trees; roofs covered with tarps and other debris that can be found at different homes along M62. Manny DeLaRosa, Coordinator for Cass County's Office of Emergency Management says they've been everyone's main point of contact as they try to move forward.
"This is kind of like a one-stop shop for our residents. It prevents them from having to call around and try to find different agencies that could help them with their recovery or assist them; however, they were impacted by the tornado," DeLaRosa explained.
He said the focus of the event is community and accessibility for all.
"It's local. It's right near the area where we were impacted, so people don't have to travel far."
Many of the people we spoke with said the gravity of the situation is starting to settle in being in complete shock for the past two weeks. One man reflected on what happened and said, "it's crazy what a few minutes can do."
On a Thursday evening, many of the people at the event would typically just be getting off of work, at home resting or starting to have dinner with their family. Instead, they're now picking up the pieces of what was torn apart within minutes.
For those who were recently impacted by tornadoes this month, researchers with the University of Oklahoma and NOAA's severe storm laboratory would like you to take a short survey about your experience to improve forecasting and weather alerts. You can scan this QR code:
