Helping hands are busy in Century, for residents impacted by Monday’s EF-3 tornado.
A steady stream of people have been coming into the Century Community Center to register with the American Red Cross. Among them is Doug Lewis; he and his wife Shirley lost their wood frame house where they’ve lived for 44 years.
“And I saw it coming, and I hollered, said ‘Get in the hallway’ and that’s where we stood,” said Lewis. “And from the time I left the dining room window until we got into the hallway it seemed like only five minutes – then it was all over.”
Lewis says they had about a half-hour of warning before the twister hit, thanks to a telephone call from their daughter Bonnie Reeves, whose home in McDavid was unscathed.
“I saw on the news that they were saying it was near Titter Road and [Highway] 29, and I started panicking and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, it’s going to Momma and Daddy’s,’” said Reeves.
For now, Doug and Shirley Lewis are staying with their daughter as they look at how to rebuild. Bonnie Reeves says they plan to contact Catholic Services and perhaps Habitat for Humanity.
Century resident Marvin Mitchell says the storm awakened him. His house sustained major damage, including the loss of its tin roof.
“We [also] had a shed with a tin roof, and it tore all that off,” Mitchell said. “I was in a block house. It busted the blocks [and] laid it down.”
Also on hand are representatives from the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies, or BRACE. Jonathan Diamond is Volunteer Program Manager, and says they’re operating what they call a “MARC” -- Multi-Agency Relief Center.
“Our main function here is we’re trying to provide a coordinated response among all the voluntary organizations that are active in this disaster,” said Diamond. “We’re trying make sure that everyone know where everyone else is and what they’re doing, so we don’t reduplicating efforts.”
Diamond says BRACE expects to remain in the Century area at least through next Monday.
Just what the state can do in the way of assistance remains unclear. On Wednesday state Emergency Management Director Bryan Koon was briefed by Escambia County officials and was driven through the area – but didn’t talk to any residents.
Also on Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott met with Escambia Sheriff David Morgan aboard NAS Pensacola, but did not make the 50-mile trip north to visit Century.
