Woodville neighbors are uniting for help amid the ongoing tornado recovery

• The tornadoes of May 10 devastated parts of our communities six months ago. The worst damage could be found in Woodville.
• Woodville neighbors came together Saturday for a Community Outreach Day.
• Watch the video to see how the event served as a form of collective outreach for neighbors in this neighborhood.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

It’s been about six months since a tornado ripped through Woodville, leaving neighbors here with a long road to recovery. I’m Kenya Cardonne, your community reporter in Southeast Tallahassee. As neighbors work to rebuild their homes, they also work to restore community spirit.

Stephanie Miller, Neighbor – “We just went home that night and woke up like a normal day… and then it wasn’t anymore.”

Stephanie Miller remembers May 10 like it was yesterday. Six months after tornadoes devastated her city, she says the initial shock is now starting to wear off.

Miller – “You start to get used to trees that you’ve seen driving down the Woodville Highway – they’re not there, and that’s normal now because that’s what we’re used to now.”

But it will take a lot of time to get used to the new Woodville.

Myrick ‘Rick the Barber’ Thompson – “You know, we don’t have much in Woodville, not much, but we’re going to get a lot.”

Myrick Thompson, also known as Rick the Barber, says he felt the urge to cheer up the community. That’s why he organized a ‘Community Outreach Day’ in the heart of the city.

Thompson – “There’s a lot of events like this happening around Tallahassee, you know? And it’s not coming to Woodville. So I’m from Woodville, and so I said, you know what? Why don’t you bring it to Woodville?”

Dozens of neighbors came together for what he calls a collective sigh of relief, using music and food.

Miller – “It’s like I feel like we’re finally getting back to where we were before.”

Miller says seeing her children and neighbors enjoying themselves makes the idea of ​​moving on all the more real.

A city that was once in ruins, but is now healing together.

Thompson – “Look at us today. You know, look at us today. We’re having a great time. And you know, we’re just pulling together as a community in Woodville.”

The event also served as an opportunity for local businesses to connect with neighbors and for neighbors to connect with health care facilities.

In southeastern Tallahassee, Kenya Cardonne ABC 27