Cleanup continues in Wapakoneta following last weekend’s EF1 tornado

WAPAKONETA — People in Wapakoneta are still cleaning up the mess after an EF1 tornado touched down last weekend.

>>PHOTOS: Buildings damaged, downed trees from overnight storms in Wapakoneta

Steve Henderson, Wapakoneta’s mayor, told News Center 7 Thursday afternoon a greenhouse holding 10 acres of strawberries and 10 acres of tomatoes is totally leveled.

He said the bunkhouses where all the workers were sleeping was untouched.

People from all over Wapakoneta, residents to businesses, are stepping up to help their neighbors rebuild.

“My wife and I went to Community (Markets) to buy 20 cases of water for electric line workers on Sunday evening and our local supermarket, Community Markets, asked, ‘what’s this for?’ I told her and she said just take 20 cases,” said Henderson. “I was at Lowe’s later that evening and they donated about 30 more cases, so about a 1,000 bottles of water. It’s just small things like that, that make our community thrive.”

>>NWS confirms EF1 tornado touched down in Auglaize County Saturday; at least 7 injured

He said under the circumstances, Wapakoneta is doing quite well.

Eight people were hurt in the tornadoes but there were no fatalities, the mayor said.

Henderson is not sure how much it will cost or any idea for a timeline to rebuild the greenhouse.

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