People across Douglas County have started the process of picking up the pieces after a confirmed tornado touched down in the county on Monday morning.
Severe Weather Team 2 confirmed that an EF-1 tornado hit the county as storms moved across the metro.
The tornado toppled trees and damaged homes with winds that reached 90 miles per hour.
“It looked like a bomb went off,” neighbor Renee Vowell told Channel 2′s Matt Johnson. “We were fortunate and blessed. Just really glad my dad’s OK.”
Ralph Aiken spent the day clearing downed trees from his driveway before helping neighbors get trees off their homes.
Now they’re preparing for the threat of more severe weather on Tuesday.
“We all help each other here,” Aiken said.
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The tornado left damage throughout the neighborhood off Kings Highway. But thankfully, no one was hurt there.
“Most of the people were at work today, so that cut down the injury levels. Period,” Aiken said.
About 7 miles away, a falling tree killed Scot Hudson, who was on his way to his restaurant, Hudson’s Hickory House.
“He was well-loved in this town, so it’s going to be a big loss,” friend Valarie Owen said.
First responders said a large tree and power lines fell on Hudson’s SUV on Campbellton Street at around 10:30 a.m.
“It’s just devastating to know that things can take away somebody’s love that quickly,” friend Carolyn Brock said.
As the community cleans up the damage from Monday’s storms, they do so with the Hudson family on their minds.
“I know some of the Hudson family. Played soccer a while back. It’s tragic. Prayers for their family,” Vowell said.
The restaurant announced on social media that it would close Monday, and it wasn’t clear when it would reopen.
“Please keep the Hudson family in your prayers,” the restaurant wrote on Facebook.
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