Gloucester residents still rebuilding

GLOUCESTER, Va. (WAVY) - People in Gloucester County are still working to rebuild after tornadoes ripped through the county claiming two lives, damaging dozens of homes and destroying Page Middle School.

In the two months since the April 16 tornadoes, Gloucester resident, Becky Kanaday is reframing her views on life. She knows it takes more than a twister to tear apart her family and her friends.

"One thing is the material things are not important. You can lose them in a second and how precious life is," says Kanaday.

The house across the street from Kanaday's home is a constant reminder of just that fact. It's the home where 53-year-old, friend and neighbor, Richard Ingraham lost his life.

Kanaday says, "We're looking forward to that being taken care of because that's where Richard lived. When you see that every morning it's depressing."

Kanaday says the brunt of the damage came to their property, but it's nothing beyond repair.

The damage to people's homes and property in Gloucester is estimated at over $8 million.

"We'll be happy when our neighborhood gets back together again. Back to our own little boring lives," says Kanaday.

Volunteers will gather June 24 and 25 for a "Tornado Debris Pickup."

The clean-up crew will meet at 8 a.m. at Bellamy Methodist church, in Gloucester.