MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WTVF) — One day after four people died following a tornado in Wilson County, Mt. Juliet homeowners are taking steps to rebuild.
In the Triple Crown neighborhood, a home was moved roughly 17 feet off its foundation.
“It was pretty bad," homeowner Kirby Jeffrey said. “My porch it pushed it back, destroyed....” Jeffrey said his stepson shielded his mom as the storm hit, because Jeffrey was at work. "It makes your heart sink," he said.
Some homes in the neighborhood are gone, with only rubble left behind. Volunteers like Joseph Talley helped clear debris.
"It's honestly life changing to see something like this,” Talley said.
As he cleaned up Tina Gallo’s yard, she's tried to find a place to stay.
“You’re kind of in survival mode of trying to get everything cleaned up and try to rebuild from here," Gallo said. Really, I think it’s the initial shock was yesterday."
A poodle she was taking care of went missing during the tornado. “One of the dogs got sucked out the window and it’s a miracle that dog got back last night at 12a.m. unharmed,” she told us.
Holding onto the positive is how this community keeps going. They still have a long road ahead, but many in the Triple Crown neighborhood are thankful everyone’s alright.
“Thank God you're still alive because there’s so many people who lost their lives,” Jeffery said
There will be a prayer service Wednesday night at 7 p.m., and Mt. Juliet Church of Christ is accepting donations. They are also serving as a distribution center.
West Wilson Middle School and Stoners Creek Elementary School will be closed the remainder of the school year due to tornado damage.
