Work continues in Fairdale to rebuild after the deadly tornado in April.
Orange construction netting surrounds dirt floors where homes used to stand. In some cases, it's the only evidence there was a home there just a few months ago. Most families are still displaced, and will be for months to come.
Bill Nicklas is president of the DeKalb County Long Term Recovery Corporation. The volunteer effort is addressing the daily needs of residents from rent to transportation. Organizers are also taking a long view.
Nicklas says the group hopes anywhere from six to a dozen homes will be going up by winter.
He says donations have totaled$850,000, with another $400,000 in pledges. Federal money was not available for Fairdale recovery efforts.
Nicklas says every family has different needs when it comes to navigating a total rebuild.
“It’s not going to be a predictable process. Everyone is going to require a lot of thought and effort, and probably some prayer.”
One of the next steps is to build a community septic field. Nicklas says that could serve the homes for the next century.
