Chainsaws roar as tornado cleanup continues across Bamberg

BAMBERG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - The cleanup continued Thursday in Bamberg, two days after a tornado knocked over a downtown building and left a trail of other damage through the community.

And residents were prepared as another round of rough weather headed for the CSRA on Friday. The forecast isn’t as dire as Tuesday’s but it can’t be great for buildings, trees and power poles already weakened by Tuesday’s high winds.

Ahead of that potential bad weather, people spent Thursday pulling trees off roofs and cutting them up, restoring power and cleaning up the mess from leaky roofs.

Despite so much damage, hope is in the air as the city is determined to move forward.

“I didn’t know where to start. I just jumped in and dove in,” said Sammie Milhouse III with Milhouse Landscaping. “It was like a war scene out here. But we got it all cleaned up.”

It’s all hands on deck in Bamberg.

MORE | Latest forcast from the News 12 First Alert team

“Today might be rough, but tomorrow? If you keep working today, tomorrow will be better,” said Milhouse. “I mean, I grew up here. So, I these streets as a kid walking down the street. It’s a little difficult to see the damage here.

It’ll take weeks before the city is completely clean, but it’s nothing a little community help can’t solve.

Conrad Stover, owner of Sanders Supply, said: “There’s a good sense of community here. Everyone knows everyone.”

Sanders Supply has been around for more than 80 years.

“I feel blessed it could have could have come straight over us and taken everything,” said Stover.

Luckily, only a small piece of the roof came off from the storm as Stover was inside the store.

“It’s very likely that some of my employees would have been traveling through the downtown area or even myself at the time that a lot of those buildings covered over the road,” he said.

It’s safe to say he’s extra thankful to be standing, watching his business rebuild.

“The people that I have working on my roof are just friends, they’re not my employees. And so that’s just what’s happening all over town is people are coming together,” said Stover.

Together, they’re building a better Bamberg.

Milhouse said: “You know, life is starting to start back. Slowly, but surely.”

Cleanup came a day after a range of officials visited Bamberg on Wednesday to assess the damage and help determine how much state and federal assistance will be needed.

Among the visitors was state Sen. Brad Hutto, who met with Bamberg officials to discuss post-storm cleanup and rebuilding efforts.

Hutto acknowledged the current “terrible situation” but also said the Bamberg community is “lucky to have experienced no injuries or fatalities.” He emphasized the importance of staying away from the affected areas until officials give the all-clear. He also assured his willingness to advocate for state financial assistance on behalf of Bamberg and asked that local officials notify him of specific public buildings that suffered damage from the tornado.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation has been on the ground since Tuesday, and the senator said he will be happy to connect Bamberg leaders with other state agencies as needed.

“We are here to help Bamberg rebuild stronger than ever,” said Hutto.

Also on Wednesday, John Quagliariello from the National Weather Service expressed his gratitude to Bamberg leaders, citizens, business owners, and the media for taking their forecast regarding the pending storm seriously, which prevented possible injuries and fatalities.

Additionally, South Carolina Emergency Management Division Director Ken Stenson emphasized that the agency exists to local authorities when events like the tornado occur.

The agency will have “people on the ground in Bamberg as long as they are needed,” Stenson said.

He commended Bamberg County for having an “excellent team that is highly trained and effective,” expressing his confidence that they will be successful in their efforts to rebuild.

Bamberg City Councilman Corey Ramsey reminded attendees that while many may see this as a “gloomy day in Bamberg, there is still hope.”

He continued: “The rainbow that appeared after the storm was a reminder of God’s covenant and His promise to be with us. We will stand tall in Bamberg County, making this perhaps our finest hour. It is still a great day in Bamberg.”

County Joey Preston said he has been so “moved by how the community has come together during this difficult time” and asks for patience but is confident Bamberg will come back “stronger than ever.”

By the numbers:

Tuesday’s storm has a preliminary rating of 2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale that measures such storms.
The tornado had maximum speeds of 125 mph and a path that was 300 to 400 yards wide.
The tornado touched down about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday.
It knocked over about 80 trees.