Downtown Bamberg starts cleaning up bricks tossed by tornado
BAMBERG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - The state has approved the cleanup of downtown Bamberg, more than a week after a building collapsed in a tornado, spilling bricks into the street.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation said cleanup can begin, so the bricks will be removed starting Thursday.
An emergency meeting was set Thursday night for the Bamberg City Council to declare an emergency.
Officials have no estimate yet on how much the cleanup will cost. But state officials are working with local leaders to determine whether federal assistance is available.
The storm on Jan. 9 tore through Bamberg, damaging up to 30 businesses and 20 homes, including destroying the historic downtown building as well as a house.
Residents have been busy since the EF-2 twister touched down – something that was not on most radar systems.
The cleanup continues, accompanied by the roar of chainsaws and leaf blowers.
Residents vow the city will come back stronger than ever.
And business owners are just as determined, including the owners of storm-damaged family-style restaurant Rusty N’ Paula’s.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- 20 to 30: Businesses damaged by the storm, with 10 destroyed.
- 20: Homes that were affected, with one destroyed.
- 803-245-3013: Call this number to report damage.
- 2: Rating of the tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
- 125: Maximum wind speed of the tornado in mph.
- 80: Number of trees knocked over.
It’s important because “I feel like Rusty N’ Paula’s is the heart of Bamberg,” said owner Paula Dyches.
It’s a work in progress at Rusty N’ Paula’s. And getting a new roof is just a start.
“We have people working outside working hard to get a rood put in,” said Dyches. “As you see in the kitchen, just got some water damage. We got the roof covered. It’s not too bad. We can’t see because they don’t have lights but everything’s looking good.”
Believe it or not, Dyches was already working to renovate the place.
“We repainted, we put in new walls, we added a wall. And then, all of a sudden, a tornado come through. So we’re starting over again. But, you know, we aren’t giving up,” she said.
The only way in Dyches’ world is to keep on going.
“Like I tell everybody, it’s gonna get bigger and better,” she said.
Also confident in a rebound is Harry Talmage, whose livelihood is buying overlooked buildings and fixing them up.
His latest project was destroyed in the storm.
He’s undeterred, though.
“I’m gonna stick with Bamberg,” said Talmage.
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