One year after an EF-2 tornado tore through a rural Erie County property In Wattsburg on Knoyle Road, the Seabury family is still working to rebuild after losing nearly everything in a matter of minutes.
Even a year later, the damage left behind is still visible. The storm changed their lives in seconds, destroying barns, silos, equipment, and animals the family considered part of their own.
The tornado also claimed the lives of two of the family’s oldest horses, along with several chickens.
Nolan Seabury says the family is currently focused on rebuilding their home, including putting on a new roof. But he says insurance coverage has fallen far short of what’s needed to fully repair the extensive damage.
The next major step in their recovery is rebuilding a barn so they can bring their surviving horse and cattle back home. Right now, the animals remain off-site while the family continues clearing and restoring the property to make it safe again.
Seabury says having their livestock back would be a major milestone in restoring a sense of normalcy after a year of recovery work.
Despite the ongoing challenges, he says the support from neighbors and the community has made a significant difference. The family says people continue to check in regularly, helping them push forward during the long rebuilding process.
A GoFundMe campaign titled “Help Sean and Elizabeth Rebuild After Tornado” remains open for those who want to support recovery efforts. A link is available on Erie News Now’s website.