When I moved to Lynchburg in 2014, I didn't think I would be on the air reporting a tornado right in the heart of our listening area. But on February 24th, 2016, I found myself in my studio sharing information to our listeners that in fact we had been hit by a tornado in Appomattox county. I found myself in fear for friends I had made that lived there, and hoping that nobody was hurt in the powerful storm that had hit there. Now a year later we look back, and more importantly look forward, as people still try to pick up the pieces of their lives. Special thanks to our news partner at ABC-13 for their coverage not only on the day of the storm when their chief meteorologist George Flickenger told us on live TV and simulcast on the radio that indeed a tornado may have touched down in Evergreen, but now as they continue to follow the recovery.
-Scott Stevens, Program Director WYYD
APPOMATTOX Co., Va. (WSET) -- Those who lost their homes nearly one year ago in the Appomattox tornado now have hope.
The county had more than 300 cases of damage in one form or another.
But now, for those who had no insurance or were under-insured, the rebuilding is in full swing.
A home on Twin Tunnel Lane is the second of six new homes the Virginia Conference United Methodist Disaster Recovery team is building.
Volunteers have been the backbone of the efforts.
One group from Prospect Mennonite Church came from Farmville to help them out.
"It makes you feel good, and I'd like to think if we're ever put in the same circumstance they are, they'd do the same for us, hope it never happens but mother nature is unpredictable so you never know," said Josh Williams, a volunteer with the group.
Slowly but surely, the tornado torn area is making a comeback, proving once again they are Appomattox strong.
"And this Evergreen community is amazing, they have really come together, anything I ask of the members of this community, they're always here, they always step forward they always help," Hunt said.
Since April, the long term recovery group said they've had 76 volunteer groups, with 969 volunteers, contributing more than 16,000 volunteer hours to the effort.
Right now, there are still 16 open cases of families who still need help rebuilding.
The county just got approved nearly $880,000 in Community Development Block Grant Funding, which they will to use to help those families rebuild.