Palermo (WSYR-TV) - It has been a whirlwind few days for an Oswego County couple trying to regroup after a tornado hit their farm Monday night.
The winds ripped apart some barns and parts of the house Bruce and Margaret Meldrim have spent the last seven plus years redoing. But the family on Jackson Road is not picking up the pieces alone.
On Wednesday, a group of volunteers arrived and began assessing what could be rebuilt.
Bruce Meldrim said that the rush of support demonstrated the quality of his Central New York neighbors.
"It doesn't surprise me, the caliber of people in this area it's just unbelievable," Bruce Meldrim said.
Margaret Meldrim said she was overwhelmed by the support of the volunteers.
"Just an extreme gratitude for all the friends and family that have come to help and like I said people were here that I didn't know yesterday, it's just phenomenal that this many people are willing to help," Margaret Meldrim said.
Along with assessing the damage, volunteers helped the Meldrims collect the remnants of the shattered structures.
"We heard about this happening to them and it's like 'Hey we've got to come out and help these people.' It's what people do, you help friends, friends help friends," said volunteer David Dancks.
John Urbiank said volunteering to help the Meldrims presented an opportunity to for him to pay back a man who gives much to his community.
"A lot of people don't know but Bruce does a lot of things for the community on his own time and he's one who has given a lot and this was a chance, I know for myself, to come back and try to repay him a little bit," said John Urbaniak, another volunteer.
Margaret Meldrim said local businesses have also donated things like drinks and ice so the volunteers are taken care of while working on the farm.
The National Weather Service did confirm it was a tornado that hit the Meldrims' farm. Wind speeds are estimated to have been between 70 and 80 miles an hour.
