Columbus continues storm cleanup

COLUMBUS -- A peaceful town was shaken by up to 70 mile-per-hour winds.

Storm damage cleanup continued in Columbus, Thursday, as roof repairmen, insurance agents, and neighbors collected in debris-filled yards.

We spoke with residents who said it's not so much the damage that surprises them -- but the timing.

"We've had storms like this in the summer but not the winter. With it being 70 degrees yesterday and unseasonably warm," Rick Hanus of Columbus said.

"It's very emotional, especially during right before Christmas when you're trying to save money [...] but we're thankful we have our family," Michael Kumm of Columbus said.

It started with a tornado warning. "We knew the storms were coming," said Hanus. Then a chill in the air: "We kind of heard the sirens go off, I had just put in my trash," said Lynn Muth of Columbus. The sky darkened to a greenish-grey. "About ten minutes later we lost power," said Kumm. "It came through pretty hard on us."

Fences were wiped away -- and sheds were hurled across lawns.

"Probably only about a minute or so before the wind subsided," Hanus said. "But then we come up to see all the damage. We lost a shed, the neighbors did, and a tree is on our house."

Plus, most of the town faced a power outage.

But the sun returned --- insurance covering some costs, and the community's support covering others.

"We all cleaned the debris, neighbors helping each other which is awesome," Hanus said.