The Employment Security Commission is totaled. Performance Auto is a shell. So is the Sonic.

This was the devastation at what Fire Chief Gary Corbet Saturday called ground zero.

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Phil Hux owns 10 of the buildings in the Forest Hills Shopping Center, including the Employment Security Commission building. Of those, seven were damaged.

Around Hux’s buildings, other buildings were damaged.

Wayne Brown, the manager of BB&T-Proctor Owens said he will most likely work from the Rocky Mount office while a decision is being made. “Our phone has been forwarded to claims office.”

The force of the storm blew the ESC roof into the Strickland Associates building while U-Haul trailers were blown as much as 10 to 15 yards.

Strum talks on his phone.

Ricky Strum, who has run Performance for the past 20 years, said the building originally built as a Phillips 66 station years ago is a total loss.

“It was more of a shock than anything,” Strum said today. “It was kind of a disbelief that we got this kind of loss.”

Strum said he recovered his records. “I got all my files. I got all the papers up.”

He said he will be looking for property to resume his business.

Lee Elks, who owns Forest Hills Service Center, said his business was spared.

Connie Jones, who runs Connie’s Creations, a styling salon, in one of Hux’s buildings, had some water enter the building.

Cleanup efforts on Tenth Street.

As Strum and Hux surveyed damage, work continued to restore power and clean debris around the area.

Hux also took reporters down River Road were the most prevalent sounds were that of chainsaws and generators.

Trees smashed into several houses in the neighborhood and trees block exit out of the community Saturday, Hux said. “Neighbors came together,” he said, using their trucks, four-wheelers and chainsaws to clear the debris.

KapStone is rendering support to local EMS and public workers as they work to provide services to citizens impacted in the Roanoke Valley by the tornadoes, Mill Communications Manager Kimberly D. Bracy said. "We contacted Tina Hinton, Halifax County Emergency Management Coordinator, today and offered our assistance. We were able to provide lunch for 100 members of EMS, public works and law enforcement today.  A local church will provide dinner."

Said Bracy: "We will continue to stay in contact with local officials to explore ways we can be of assistance.  Continue to keep the people of Roanoke Rapids and the surrounding areas in your thoughts as we rebuild our community."