ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — It’s amazing that nobody was killed.
Just before noon Thursday, a EF1 tornado ripped through the Trailmark neighborhood in St. Johns County. Shingles were torn off roofs, patio furniture was thrown from porches and many trees were knocked down by the wind. The cleanup efforts began immediately and continued all day Friday.
The most consistent sound that could be heard was that of saws carving up tree branches and nail guns repairing roofs, but the most consistent image was that of neighbors helping each other clean the damage.
The path of the tornado went directly through the Trailmark neighborhood, what was left behind were tarped roofs waiting for repairs. A road sign marking Weathered Edge Drive stayed up through the storm. It’s now joined by signs advertising roof repair companies. On Friday, the cleanup continued.
“Just out here helping one of our friends and get some of the mess cleaned up here,” said Jake Dunn, who lives in Trailmark.
Dunn lives two blocks away from Weathered Edge Drive and only suffered minor damage to his home, but his friends had a large tree fall in their backyard.
“We’re here to love our neighbor,” said Dunn, “just getting out there and helping, if someone needs it and asks and if you have the resources and ability, go for it, it always comes full circle.”
Justin Peternell lives on Weathered Edge Drive and actually just bought his house and was in the process of moving in. Instead of interior designs he spent Friday pressure washing insulation off the outside of his home. Even though he’s new to the neighborhood, he’s not cleaning up alone.
“We’ve had good help with the neighborhood, can’t say enough good things about the neighborhood and how they’ve come together to help each other out,” said Peternell.
Jonathan Weissert was painting inside of a home when the tornado struck, it’s a moment he’ll never forget.
“You just hear all the wind, it was very strong wind, you could feel the wind and hear the wind,” said Weissert, who also lives in Trailmark.
There are many professional roofers hard at work making repairs, but neighbors are also lending a helping hand.
“It’s all hands on deck,” said Weissert about what his neighborhood was like after the storm passed, “I grabbed a hose and washed my house and my neighbor’s house, it’s been great to see everyone come together at a time like this.”
Shortly after the storm hit, one of the roofers on site estimated that he thought it would take 2 weeks for all of the roofs to get repaired in the neighborhood.
The neighbors who spoke to First Coast News all said that they’ll be helping each other long after that.