Neighbors still not able to be in their homes 1 year after tornado

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY. Ga. — Neighbors in a south Fulton County community are still out of their homes a full year after a tornado ripped through the area.

Channel 2 Action News showed you the widespread damage and debris the storms left scattered across the community this time last year in the city of South Fulton.

[PHOTOS: Storms cause extensive damage in south Fulton County]

It has been a long road to recovery for the neighborhood and, for some, the journey isn't over.

Anthony Chappell said the storm destroyed his home, as it did many other homes in the neighborhood.

"I hear people say it sounded like a freight train, but it didn't sound like a freight train. It was something I’ve never heard before,” Chappell said.

He told Channel 2's Alyssa Hyman that he and his family hid in a basement bathroom to survive the storm.

The next morning, Chappell said, he got his first real look at the destruction.

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"We had over $100,000 worth of damage to the house,” Chappell told Hyman.

He said it took eight months before he and his family could finally move back home.

Chappell said the biggest challenge was not having enough guidance through the recovery process.

"They don't have a book for ‘Tornadoes for Dummies,’” he said.

Crystal Shaw said her home still isn't fully repaired. She's still living in hotels.

“We're praying for everybody,” Shaw said.

Prayer is one of the reasons why she and the rest of her neighborhood came together Tuesday night on the one-year anniversary of the storm to check on each other, to raise awareness and to share their lessons and struggles.

“A lot of people didn't know that the tornado hit our area. We just want to let them know we're still building around here. We're standing strong. We just to want to let them know that God allowed us to make it through,” Shaw said.

Neighbors said one of the holdups has been dealing with different contractors.

Most everyone in the subdivision had their insurance kick in but there are still plenty of things they had to pay for up front.

Cox Media Group