Escambia EMA still assessing damage from Saturday tornado

Published 9:17 am Monday, June 21, 2021

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Escambia County Emergency Management Agency Director David Adams is working to complete an assessment of damage in the county from a tornado that ripped through the area early Saturday morning.

“Right now we have assessed damage on about 30 homes,” Adams said Monday. “The damage ranges from totally demolished to minor issues. That assessment is still ongoing.”

Although some homes were destroyed in the weather event, Adams said most of those who had to seek shelter have found help from family and friends.

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“Of those who were displaced from the tornado damage, most of them have been taken in by family and friends,” Adams said. “We had a shelter open on Saturday and into Sunday, but we didn’t have any takers on the use of the shelter so it is now closed.”

Adams said the main concern now is the safety of those working to clean up debris and repair damaged areas around the area.

“If you don’t have to be out in those damaged areas, please don’t be going there,” Adams said. “We have had a terrible problem with traffic in those areas and the power crews and cleanup crews need some room to do their jobs.”

Adams said the National Weather Service’s report of the EF2 designation for the tornado that ripped through the Riverview, East Brewton and Brewton areas is the most accurate description for the Saturday morning weather event.