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It’s been several days since an EF-3 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale touched down in Plantersville, causing a multitude of homes to be destroyed and two precious lives to be lost within the community.

On Monday, several community members were still in the area and still in shock of just how much damage the tornado caused Saturday night, leaving what was a community full of homes to now just piles of debris, bits and pieces of homes and personal belongings of value to many.

Resident Tony Robertson and his wife Emily were two of the members among many who lost their home within the tornado. He said they were at home when they discovered the news of the storm but after hours passed, they thought their area was in the clear.

“We were in,” Tony said. “My wife had to get up to go to work early the next morning, so she was gone to bed and I had fell asleep outside in my recliner, like I usually do, when all of a sudden I felt something suck me up and dropped me back down. So, I hunkered down in the chair until it was all over, and then I got to hollering for my wife because I heard her hollering for me telling she was stuck in the bedroom.”

Tony also shared other details regarding the night of the tornado and how the neighbors in Plantersville stuck together to help save the lives of those trapped. He also said it typically is something he would see on the news but never thought his community would ever have to experience it for themselves.

“Now here we are,” Tony said. “We have experienced it, and now we are experiencing this part of it.”

Tony’s wife Emily said she couldn’t believe how severe the damage from the storm was as she was seeing the damage first hand each day.

“It’s unbelievable,” Emily said. “All the help from the churches, the Red Cross, Wright’s Nursery and Greenhouse, Plantersville Mini Mart. There was food every day for the residents within the community, and the workers clearing out the debris and all of the trees.”

Over 100 families were impacted due to the effects of the tornado that had estimated peak winds of 140 mph left damage along a 24.33-mile path from Plantersville to just outside of Clanton with a maximum path width of 1,000 yards. The storm left damage in the Plantersville community along County Road 63 for four miles, the most extensive part of the damage being near Lovelady Drive.

Dallas County Homeland Security and EMA Director Toya Stiles said Wednesday, residents who lost power within the area over the weekend from the tornado, now have their power restored and several of those who did lose their home completely have found shelter living with friends, family or have had assistance with staying in a hotel.

Stiles said as residents of Plantersville try to look forward, she urges everyone within the Selma and Dallas County communities to take weather precautions seriously.

“Really, I encourage everyone to take in just the seriousness of being prepared, being well aware and actually knowing where your safe place is, ahead of the tornado warning or severe weather in general,” Stiles said.

Stiles said families who live in a mobile home during severe weather, should seek shelter. If the shelter in Plantersville is at full capacity, sometimes residents may have to travel to the next nearest location.

The next shelter location near Plantersville is the Valley Grande Storm Shelter, which is located on 3271 County Road 65.

Those who are facing a tornado, in which they live in a brick home, should move to the smallest room within the home with no windows and invest in a helmet for extra coverage to protect their heads, according to Stiles.

Stiles said she continuously urges families within the Plantersville area to report their damages from the tornado because there could be a possibility that her office on 102 Church St. could receive assistance to help those in need.