Eden family home crushed by trees in last week’s tornado

EDEN, N.Y. — Gary and Nancy Nobbs are determined to get back into their home before winter after it was crushed by falling trees in last week’s tornado.

They said they had no idea there was a tornado warning in their area at the time.

“Maybe an hour or two ago, I was in bed while you were up here keeping watch. And if I had been in bed, I would have died. That tree came crashing down (right) there,” Gary Nobbs said outside his home as Disaster Relief worked to protect it from further damage.

Disaster Relief is a local business founded by volunteer firefighter Bob Timmel. He said after fighting fires, people would ask for extra help that he couldn’t provide. That’s when he started his small business.

“We try to sit them down, advise them, because I always say I think half of my job is being an advisor (and) the other half is being a restaurant entrepreneur,” Timmel said.

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services is still assessing the damage to learn more about available funding to help those affected.

New York State has activated the Department of Financial Services Disaster Hotline to help New Yorkers affected by the disaster answer their insurance questions. The number is 800-339-1759 and is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.