Tornado in Shenandoah County Impact Farmers
Reported by WHSV TV - Karen Campbell:
After a violent tornado touched down in Shenandoah County early Thursday morning, farmers in the area have been hit hard.
Some are finding it difficult to rebuild. An agent with the Virginia Cooperative Extension says his team has been surveying the damage to one farm on Kelly Road.
"The poultry companies have been working with the farmer. They have relocated a huge number of poultry to other farms either because the power is out or because the building has been damaged," said Bobby Clark, an extension agent with the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
His team is in the early stages of doing damage assessments.
"There's a tremendous debris field here. Insulation, tin, wood and things of that nature," said Clark.
Clark says it's not the field of debris that is most concerning.
"The livelihood that the farmer has lost, will take a long time to replace. Some of them may choose not to rebuild," said Clark.
Clark says often times it can take up to one year for farmers to rebuild.
Clark is asking those affected to take pictures of the damage, and send them to farm service agencies, in the event federal assistance becomes available.
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