(“Well over”) 250 homes destroyed, 1,000 damaged

Officials have received preliminary numbers to indicate that more than 250 homes were destroyed and more than one thousand damaged by the tornado, according to Seneca’s Scott Moulder. The city and the county have been involved in task force surveys of damaged structures. Many of the significantly damaged homes are in a condition now that doesn’t allow safe access. “FEMA”, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is not yet in the county, in spite of some misconception. Moulder, the city administrator, urges owners of damaged properties to be on guard against price gougers. There’s already evidence, he said, that one outside company is charging one victim $6 thousand in repairs when another contractor says the work would require only $1,500.