“Once I got to my street, I could see something was missing and there was a big hole where my house should have been,” Brian said.

SUFFOLK, Va. - Under a pile of insulation, dust and debris, Emily pulled out a photo taken on her wedding day – perfectly preserved. A few moments earlier, her husband found their utility bill.

The couple is sifting through the ruins of their home, which was destroyed by the recent tornadoes that struck southeastern Virginia.

“When I first found out a tornado touched down near we lived, I figured everything would be okay,” Brian said. “Once I got to my street, I could see something was missing and there was a big hole where my house should have been.”

Brian came home to find his house knocked off the foundation, crumbling apart and blown to bits by a tornado that had, just moments earlier, torn through his neighborhood.

“It took a second to realize what had really happened,” he said. “I was in shock.”

Thanks to a collaborative effort, Emily and Brian had some help in sifting through what was left of their belongings. About 200 people – including 60 military personnel – volunteered to help start the cleanup efforts in 4 neighborhoods affected by the storms.

About 200 people – including 60 military personnel – volunteered to help residents such as Emily and Brian, above, sift through the debris and begin cleanup efforts.

“The folks with Operation Blessing have been a huge blessing for us,” Brian said. “It’s been so overwhelming.”

The United Way of South Hampton Roads is spearheading the efforts and linked arms with Operation Blessing, the Suffolk Police Department as well as Samaritan’s Purse, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and God’s Pit Crew. Chaplains from Billy Graham’s Evangelical Association are also onsite providing counseling services to victims.

“The tornado pogo-sticked its way through these neighborhoods and left a path of destruction behind it,” said OBI President Bill Horan. “No one is ever ready for something like this, especially in a place where things like this never happen. That’s why we are here to help.”

As Brian and Emily continue to look through what’s left of their house, they are still holding out hope to find their missing pet. The couple has two cats, Calvin and Hobbes, and one of the felines was found this morning in a neighbor’s garage.

“We are hoping if one survived, the other will too,” Brian said. “We left food out last night and some was gone this morning, so maybe he is hiding somewhere.”

An OBI bobcat begins removing piles of debris from Emily and Brian's property. Residents can submit work order requests with OBI at Open Door Church.

Operation Blessing is helping coordinate work orders submitted by homeowners in need of debris removal. Requests are being taken at Open Door Church, 816 Kings Fork Road in Suffolk, Va. In addition, volunteers can also sign up at the church.

Earlier in the week, The American Red Cross of Southeastern Virginia asked Operation Blessing to support their mass feeding efforts by serving the relief workers, helping them free up Red Cross staff members to concentrate on reaching victims and getting them housed in temporary shelters.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

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