LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Tornadoes tore through homes and businesses in parts of central Pennsylvania last week, and one of the businesses impacted was The Broome Closet ceramic studio.
Owner Peggy Broome said she still can’t get into the Columbia studio to save her hard work.
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Broome reopened her ceramic studio more than two years ago. She says the severe weather not only damaged that business, but also her L’l Brown Goat Milk Soap business.
“I’ve lost two businesses in one fell swoop,” Broome said. “I’m still in denial, I don’t know, shock … I’ve gotten to the anger stage.”
Broome said the borough condemned her building and padlocked it. She said she needs a waiver to go inside her store.
The building was condemned after sustaining structural damage in the tornado. (WHP)
Broome said she hopes her insurance can handle the situation soon so she can get into the building and take out what she wants to save.
“[I’m] frustrated. I want to move forward, but the universe will tell me when we’re ready to make that next step,” Broome said.
From the outside, she can see some of the damage, but Broome said she won’t know what’s salvageable until she gets a closer look inside.
“What I can see in the front window here, that room is intact. The next room, I’m not sure, because my one wall is pushing out into the alley,” she said.
A few miles from the ceramic studio, families in Blue Lane, closer to the river, were also picking up pieces after the storm.
One family told CBS 21 off camera that a truck was lifted off the ground after a tree smashed through the roof of the garage.
The family says the loss could be up to $20,000-30,000.
They also said that as soon as they learned about a possible tornado, everyone ran to the basement and tried their best to stay calm.