Crews Continue Tornado Clean Up in Buford

BUFORD, Ga. - Clean up and restoration crews are busy at work in the Kirkstone Subdivision in Buford following Tuesday's toado that ripped through the community.

The National Weather Service confirmed two toadoes hit the metro-area Tuesday, including the EF2 that devastated the Kirkstone neighborhood.

Crews continued their work Friday, but some Buford homes in the Kirkstone subdivision won't be back to normal for months.

The neighborhood took a direct hit from an EF2 toado, packing winds of 130 miles per hour.

Tammy O'Connor's 5-year old son and 16-year-old daughter, were sitting on a sofa when the storm tore off their home's back wall. Luckily they nor anyone else in the neighborhood was hurt.

Across the street the twister flattened Matthew and Reasey Lee's house, both of whom weren't home when the toado hit.

The couple did get some good news when their dog -- who was thought to have died in storm -- was found safe and sound.

The Lee's were thankful for all the support they have received. Their home was the only one in the neighborhood that was destroyed. Forty-nine others received damage.

Wednesday night things were starting to get back to normal for residents whose homes were spared.

Tragedy also struck in the southe part of the county.

Matthew Mitchell -- 54-years old -- was killed instantly when a tree knocked down by the storm hit the Conyers man's Toyota as he was driving on South Rockbridge Road.

Police call it a freak accident, saying Mitchell was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

As work progresses in the area Gwinnett County police say they are keeping an eye out for scam artists.

The state insurance commissioner tentatively put the losses from the toado at $5 million. That number covers only the homes located in the Kirkstone subdivision.