The Oak Grove community continues to build up after an EF-3 tornado tried to tear it down almost three months ago.
But with severe weather on the way, progression in moving forward could be put on hold.
“We gotta take a break for the rain that comes in, stop what you're doing,” Green Construction company worker Jonny Green said.
Green, whose family has lived in Oak Grove for generations, said they’ve been replacing rafters and sheeting roofs, a process that’s been difficult with the rain.
“We kind of just work a little bit faster than we'd like to, try to get whatever we get taken off, and put it back on there at the end of the day,” Green said.
With bad weather on the horizon, residents say that is on the forefront of their minds.
“Everyone's kind of scared of the tornado hitting again for sure cause all this work would be for nothing and I don't know,” Green said.
“There are people over here that are just now starting to get their homes put back together and there are still tarps on the roofs and you just hope that there's not more damage,” Broadway Grille employee Beth Fulks said.
The restaurant has been around for 16 years. Fulks said it was hard seeing the faces of people they call family feeling the aftermath.
“People being hurt, losing everything, or losing part of everything and dealing with the fright of the situation, it’s hard,” Fulks said.
She said the community has really come together to help one another and hopes the community will continue to stay prepared.
For Green, he said right now there’s a sense of urgency to finish what’s been started on these houses.
“We don't really want to do all this and it gets all blown away, kinda try and do it the best we can so it'll stay put for the storm,” Green said. “Stay strong.”
There will be a volunteering effort on Saturday May 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at New Life Church for victims impacted. For more information, you can contact the church at 816-690-3514.
