Photos: McMinn County three months after a tornado

Ron Scherbarth is rebuilding his home after a tornado swept through McMinn County on Nov. 30. “I’ve been through Vietnam and now this,” he said, tearing up. “This is worse. This is my home. These are my friends. Fortunately, no one died, but some of them are getting new homes somewhere else and not coming back. I’ll miss them.”

A field once filled with trees across from Deerfield Estates in McMinn County.

The front deck is what remains of a home at Deerfield Estates in McMinn County after a Nov. 30 tornado swept through the area.

Virginia Ming and her family's home in Deerfield Estates in McMinn County. The house was lifted off the foundation by a tornado what swept through the area on Nov. 30.

Virginia Ming with what remains of her home in McMinn County after a tornado hit the area in Nov. 30. “My husband wrapped his arms around me, and I prayed to the Lord to please wrap His arms around us too and protect us. I kept praying that over and over – ‘Please, Lord wrap Your arms around us and protect us’ – and He did,” said Virginia Ming.

The remnants of a home Deerfield Estates in McMinn County.

The remains of a home at Deerfield Estates in McMinn County after a Nov. 30 tornado swept through the area.

James Long and his wife had spent three years renovating the Van Dyke Mansion, an antebellum home where Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman once spent the night, while they lived in another home on the property. They were about six months from finishing the project when the tornado came through and ripped off most of the front of the grand two-story house.

“The first day after it happened I didn’t know what we were going to do,” Long said. “I thought we were probably going to have to bulldoze it down.” Said James Long of the antebellum Van Dyke Mansion he as his wife are rebuilding.

Debris litter the area at Fairview Baptist Church in Athens. A Nov. 30 tornado tore down the church's steeple but totally destroyed the old church auditorium, a two-story education building, the fellowship hall, and the gym.

The church’s steeple is missing. Part of the roof has already been replaced. Totally destroyed were the old church auditorium, a two-story education building, the fellowship hall, and the gym. The new auditorium sustained a half million in damages. His residence and the residence of his assistant pastor also were damaged.

Fairview Baptist Church has set up a temporary home at the American Bedding building after a tornado damaged the church and destroyed several of the church's buildings.

Fairview Baptist Church has set up a temporary home at the American Bedding building after a tornado damaged the church and destroyed several of the church's buildings.