LAKE TOWNSHIP, OH (WTOL) – The communities that were devastated by tornadoes one year ago are remembering what happened but are also looking ahead to the future.
In Dundee, Michigan, residents like Kevin Schuler on Monday were remembering their early morning tornado on June 6, 2010. He says life has changed.
"You just keep paying more and more attention to the weather, that's for sure, and all the storms that are coming up," Schuler said.
Over the past two days, people came out to admire the new Lake Township administration building, replacing the one that took a direct hit by the deadly Wood County tornado on June 5, 2010.
There's a monument bearing the names of the seven victims as well as seven pillars to remember them.
Lake Township fire chief Todd Walters said, "I think everybody greatly appreciated the design that was put into this building. The monuments and the memories here, I think, will be something to last for years to come."
The Lake Township police department moves into the new building on Thursday and it features several rooms that will act as a "safe house" for any future tornado.
A holding cell and evidence rooms have walls that are filled with concrete and a four inch concrete cap on the ceiling. The rooms can withstand 200 mile per hour winds.
"With the employees that we had here, it was a situation that they were able to get to some place safe. But this time it is a good feeling to know there is a safer place for them to be," said Sgt. Scott Sims of the Lake Township police department.
In Fulton County, near Delta, people gathered at Shiloh Christian Union Church to remember their tornado. One resident, Jill Sonick, was so moved by her community's recovery that she has been collecting toys for children affected by the recent tornado in Joplin, Missouri.
"I thought I would get a couple of boxes full (of toys). I have one side of my two car garage full of toys and now we are working to get them down to Joplin," Sonick said.
She and other volunteers will drive to Joplin this weekend to deliver the toys.
