OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. (localmemphis.com)- The National Weather Service-Memphis confirmed it was two tornadoes, EF-1 and EF-2, that ripped through DeSoto County.
Neighbors, first responders, and power line crews continued efforts on Sunday to restore power and help with the clean up.
Tommy Reel has lived in his Olive Branch home for 25 years and has never experienced a tornado like this before. Many of the trees in his yard were snapped and the top of his barn was blown across the street.
“They’ve gone north of us, south of us, east of us, west of us, one came over the top of us one time,” Reel said. “We heard it, but not a direct hit like this.”
During the clean up, the devastation of the storm started to set in with many of the people affected.
“It starts to kind of soak in,” Reel said. “What’s gone and what’s lost but then you get to thinking too no one got injured.”
DeSoto County Emergency Services has sent out crews that will access damage to the county over the next several days. It reports there were only two non-critical injuries, but the damage was worse than it expected.
Lewisburg Fire Department is hosting a collection for things people affected by the storm may need. Clay Walker of DeSoto County EMS said there are plenty of non-perishable foods, clothes, baby diapers, cleaning supplies, garbage bags, and plenty of other necessities crucial in the time of a storm.
“We expected maybe a few cases of water and maybe some snacks but nothing like this,” Walker said. “It’s just really overwhelming.”
It’s asking volunteers to help with distributing all these goods to people affected by the storm. The items are free to all those affected.
“Always be prepared, have faith in your community and the good Lord is always watching,” Walker said.
National Weather Service will dispatch two teams to Obion, Tunica, DeSoto, and Fayette counties to further investigate storm damage on Monday.