Cries for help brought volunteer firefighters to the uprooted trailer of Tim and Pat Fulks Thursday night after a tornado ripped through Athens County.
The elderly Fulks were two of 300 homeowners impacted by the storm that started at about 7 p.m. Thursday and traveled through Nelsonville, The Plains and Athens.
As of yesterday, 186 Athens County residents were still without power.
(The Fulks) were at the door and the storm sucked them out onto their porch
said Erik Hixson, the Fulks' grandson. Hixson is a senior at Athens High School.
Volunteer firefighter Dale Sinclair and Athens resident Steve Bailey heard the couple from the Fulks' home and rescued them from their porch.
The couple was taken to the hospital and Pat suffered from broken ribs, Hixson said.
Gov. Ted Strickland, State Representative Debbie Phillips (D-92), city officials and the Ohio and Athens County Emergency Management Agencies surveyed the damage Friday.
I see the community coming together as communities always do to help their neighbors Strickland said.
Athens High School's Basil Rutter Field, nearby homes and Autotech Service Center, 2079 E. State St., suffered the most severe damages.
Property Damage Assessment teams worked with Athens County Job & Family Services Friday to survey the area and compile an initial assessment of the losses from the storm.
Next door to the Fulks at 26 N. McDonald St., Donna Misner was found trapped inside her demolished home and rescued by neighbors at about 10:30 p.m., said Cathy Shumway, Misner's neighbor. Misner was sent to the hospital with a broken back.
Throughout Thursday night, the Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Services transported 11 people to the hospital, said Fred Davis, director of Athens County EMA. He added that a total of 13 people were admitted into the hospital that night.
Considering the devastation it's almost inconceivable that no lives were lost
Strickland said.
The Athens Red Cross is providing shelter at Beacon School, 801 W. Union St., Davis said. He added that Job & Family Services is contacting local food banks to store donated food for people affected by the storm.
Although the Red Cross is not allowing pets at Beacon School, Athens County's Disaster Animal Response Team is providing assistance for animal care and supplies through the Red Cross.
In addition to damaged homes, access to the football stadium at Athens High School was blocked Friday because the stadium suffered substantial damage.
While the assessment at the high school was taking place, others cleaned rubble from the leveled Autotech Service Center.
We suffered a total loss
said storeowner Jeff Higgins. From here
we'll just turn it in to the insurance company and hope for the best.
Workers also attended to the adjacent Super 8 Motel, 2091 E. State St., which suffered roof damage. Dollar General in The Plains also had parts of its roof missing.
The Ohio EMA Damage Assessment Team will reassess the destruction today in Athens, Wayne and Meigs counties to determine if Federal EMA will help cover the cost of the damage.
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Laura Service
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