The hum of generators filled the air and blue tarps lined the roofs of several buildings at the Lakeshore on the Hill apartment complex Saturday as work continued to repair damage from Tuesday's tornado.
As construction crews worked on the roof nearby, David Cemel and volunteers from L and M Moving and Storage lowered items from his apartment balcony into a moving truck.
Cemel said his apartment, B 307, was one of the hardest-hit by the storm.
"It sounded like a train wreck," Cemel said. "It tore the roof off, and it collapsed into my bedroom."
Cemel was lowering photos and furniture that survived the storm. He'd saved some keepsakes, including a shadowbox display that held a photo of him parachuting while in the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division.
Cemel pointed to one of the parachutes in the photo and said, "That's me," before lowering it to the movers.
He said it took four hours to empty his apartment with the help of movers.
Michelle Newell, co-owner of L and M Moving and Storage, said her company was helping everyone at the apartments free of charge and her employees were volunteering their time as well.
When asked why they were doing it, Newell said, "I'd hope someone would do the same for me. I was brought up to believe you take care of your neighbors."
Since the tornado, L and M has moved 17 residents with many more to go. Officials said 50 apartments were deemed uninhabitable on the day after the storm. Some are still too dangerous or damaged to occupy, but some residents are moving back in.
While Cemel was moving out, his neighbor Donna Coffman, of B 308, was waiting to re-enter into her apartment to see what could be saved.
Coffman said her apartment was heavily damaged and she hadn't been allowed to go in to pack.
She said it's frustrating because no one can find out what is going on. And she's afraid that the longer she waits, the more she'll lose to water damage.
"If I can just get in there I'll be good," Coffman said.
Meanwhile, some residents have been able to move back in after being displaced by the storm damage.
Tony and Sheila Creasman, of C 203, returned Friday afternoon after engineers said their apartment was safe.
"We're lucky to have a place to come back to," Tony Creasman said.
The Creasmans' neighbor, Cindy Young, also returned Friday. She and her husband were home when the EF-2 twister hit.
"It was like the tornado in 'The Wizard of Oz,'" Young said.
She said after seeing all the damage to the apartment complex, they were all fortunate no one was hurt.
No damage estimate was available Saturday, and the apartment complex's management could not be reached for comment.
Contact Staff Writer Jeremy Belk at jbelk@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6345.