Some of the damage leftover on Rodney Maroney's farm in Sardis after Monday's storms. (abc3340.com)
Maroney hasn't had time to account for all his cattle after suffering heavy damage at his Sardis farm Monday. (abc3340.com)SARDIS CITY - AL -
Many farmers in Sardis City spent the morning mending fences and trying to locate pieces of their barns. Some haven't had a chance to make sure all their cattle made it through Monday's storm.
Early damage estimates appear to be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Rebuilding could take all summer.
Cattle owner Rodney Maroney was outside his barn Monday afternoon changing the oil on his car.
"All of at once, I see rotation and sheet metal coming in the air and heard the timber crackling like crumbling crackers in soup," he said.
Maroney ran for his house where he and his wife took shelter in a closet. He later emerged to damage stretching for acres.
"This was a 20 by 50 shed. It's gone. This was a 40 by 50 hay storage. It's all gone," said Maroney of what used to be barn that housed farming equipment and hay.
Wiring was ripped through the sides of the metal barn. 1,100-pound bales of hay were tossed around, and a trestle was blown a quarter of a mile away.
"Most of this was happening on my way to the house. If I'd been at the barn, I'd probably wouldn't be here," said Maroney.
It's too early to estimate the damage. But Maroney says it won't be good. He believes repairs could take all summer.
