Rebuilding Continues In Holmes Co. After Tornado

Some residents in Holmes County are still trying to rebuild after April’s deadly tornado. Most of the damage happened in the community of Ebenezer.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wrapped up its work removing debris in July.

It cost the government more than seven-and-a-half million dollars. Some houses are still in rubble and others are being rebuilt. But, one elderly resident is having problems with her new trailer.

"They hadn't done anything to it," said 66-year-old Doris Hoover.

Hoover has lived in this mobile home for two weeks now. And, she's not happy with it.

"I was supposed to have a new shower and a new bathtub and that hasn't been done. I was supposed to have carpet on the floor and that hasn't been done. Mold was all over the drywall," recalls Hoover.

Since she has no electricity, she has no air conditioning or refrigerator.

"When they brought it out they left it open. They didn't put the two pieces together and it has rain inside it," said Hoover.

After the April tornado destroyed her home, she temporarily lived in a FEMA cottage. Her old home was damaged in the storm and she was injured.

"My collarbone was broken in two places and i had four broken ribs," said Hoover.

And, she says she paid 24-thousand dollar to Kosciusko-based company Trace Builders for her new home.

"He said the house was a 2006. I noticed on the papers it was a 2001. He started out lying. I went through the tornado, and I can't bring closure to it because of this situation," comments Hoover.

All she wants is a place to call home and get on with life after the tornado.

"I don't see how this could be happening to one of Mississippi’s senior citizens. I love this state, and I don't want to leave it. But, being treated like that, I might have to," adds Hoover.

We left messages with Trace Builders several times about this story, but no one has returned our calls.