SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Residents are picking up the pieces in south Fulton County where a EF-2 tornado hit Monday evening.
Many homes on Jumpers Trail, in Fairburn's Chestnut Ridge subdivision, are left open to the elements and to criminals.
Homeowners are working to get their houses boarded up, so no one can steal anything inside.
Home surveillance video captured the moments just before Thomas Correa says a tornado left his home exposed to the elements among other threats.
"I saw the blue light in the middle of the storm,” Correa said.
Correa told Channel 2's Carl Willis that his neighborhood along Jumpers Trail has been in the dark since the tornado and is eerily quiet once the workers leave.
That has Correa and his neighbors concerned about security.
"I've got a lot of money invested -- not only money but special things that we bought because we love it. It's been with us for 10 years so definitely, we're concerned," Correa said about his home.
"I understand that because there are a lot of people in the neighborhood walking around that are not familiar faces," neighbor Marjorie Davis said.
Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts said Wednesday that security will be present in the neighborhood.
Willis said he saw private security and Fulton County police patrolling throughout the day.
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Neighbors spent Wednesday cleaning up and boarding up their homes. But they say they will need continued security presence to keep the community safe.
"God is going to help us get it back together. We'll get it back together. It'll take time but we'll get it back together," Davis said.
Correa said his insurance company provides for a hotel stay during repairs but he's not taking it.
Instead, he told Willis he is staying with a friend just two blocks away so he can keep a close eye on his home.
"I'd rather stay in the area, so I'm going to be checking in all the time," Correa said.
Among the many people trying to rebuild is a Clayton County deputy.
“There was water pouring out that fan,” Clayton County Deputy Justin Mitchell said as he walked through his home.
Mitchell said he is a first-time homebuyer. He’s quickly learning about home repairs. He moved in Sunday. The tornado hit Monday.
"It felt like a punch in the stomach. It's something I worked so hard for. My first time, first time homebuyer and I only slept in the house one night," Mitchell told Channel 2's Sophia Choi.
Mitchell is now meeting with contractors and adjusters, trying to figure out what needs to be done, and who he should hire.
“I have some people coming up, ‘Oh let me come in here, let me stand by with you and your adjuster. Don’t worry. We’ll take care of you.’ And just erring on the side of caution, I just contacted my adjuster,” Mitchell said.
Experts told Choi that whoever you hire, you need to be home and have eyes on them when they do the work.
“Watch them, make sure they’re not flipping up the tabs on your roof. That’s one way that damage is created,” Nick Black with M&A Roofing said.
Choi said she saw saw plenty of roofers and other construction workers already on the job in the subdivision. Residents said they’re working together to find trustworthy crews.
“I vetted him out and just felt really good about him and just so happened, other neighbors started to use the same company,” neighbor Tracey Stalling said.
With Mitchell being new to the neighborhood, he told Choi that he is relying on his adjuster.
“It's my first time. I just kind of consult with my adjuster,” Mitchell said.
Experts say with major storm damage. you should get references and make sure whoever you hire is licensed and insured.
Cox Media Group
