People in Fox Hollow, a subdivision on the outskirts of Aiken, are still working to save part of a home that was destroyed.
The people who own that home weren’t there at the time of the tornado. This is used as their winter home, but neighbors are coming together to help the couple who lives in Pennsylvania.
Total devastation, that’s how neighbors are describing the only house hit in their community by a tornado.
Chris Hays was home next door on Sunday afternoon when the winds ripped through his neighborhood.
“We were right in the direct cone and then they started mentioning the roads and we got the animals in the barn, the cats inside the feed room, brought our dogs into an interior closet,” said Hays.
After sheltering their pets, he and his wife got inside a closet to wait the storm out.
“It got eerily calm, not a sound, no birds, nothing and all of the sudden the rain started coming down and then it switched 180 degrees,” said Hays.
When Hays came out to survey the damage, he had some small limbs and debris on his property.
“Next thing you know, I heard my wife scream and we looked over here in my neighbor’s yard,” said Hays.
They saw the roof totally blown off and trees snapped in half. The inside of their neighbor’s home was completely ruined. Hays said if they were inside at the time of the storm, they would have been hurt.
“Their devastated, you know, it’s a special place,” said Hays.
Now, everyone is banding together to move furniture and salvage what’s left after the tornado.
“We were very fortunate that no one was hurt, that’s what we are all grateful for,” said Hays.
The owners have contacted their insurance company. They are planning to make a special trip to this home in Aiken to put everything back together.
