It’s hard to believe it’s been six months since a tornado touched down and destroyed businesses and homes in Beech Island. The storm hit during a time when many were struggling with the economic disaster. One small business almost had to shut its doors, but after the debris was picked up from their shop, and the economy picked up speed through stimulus funds, the family business is still standing. WJBF News Channel 6’s Joy Howe takes a look.

Hurricane Bill has weakened to a Category 2 storm over the Atlantic as it nears Bermuda on track to pass between the island and the U.S. East Coast.

Hurricane Bill has strengthened to a Category 4 storm as it rumbles across the Atlantic with maximum sustained winds near 135 mph. And forecasters say some additional strengthening is expected by the first hurricane of the Atlantic season.

We take a look at the storm-ravaged communities…one week later. Last Saturday, many local residents woke up to mangled trees, ruined houses, and downed power lines. WJBF News Channel 6’s Joy Howe shows how much things have changed, in seven days.

Last week’s tornado was a big blow for the historic All Saints Episcopal Church, in Beech Island. But the 178 year old church weathered the storm providing a safe haven for a prized member of the congregation, but now it’s facing a major clean up one that will come down to a matter of “faiths.“ WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

According to Aiken County Sheriff’s Office Captain Troy Elwell, there are several places that storm debris from last weekend’s storms can be disposed of.

According to the National Weather Service, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect until 4:45 p.m. EDT for Aiken and Lexington Counties…

A nursing home evacuated during Friday night’s storms is damaged and still empty. The staff is beginning the clean-up process to get it ready for residents to be moved back in. WJBF News Channel 6’s Paige Tucker reports.

Monday became a race against the weather for people still trying to pick through the rubble to find belongings, in Aiken County. Hundreds woke up to a disaster, early Saturday morning. Beech Island, and the surrounding areas were the hardest hit. Emergency crews say half a dozen homes are destroyed. The clean-up is still in the early stages, and now comes the news that another storm is rolling in. WJBF News Channel 6’s Joy Howe has the story.

A reported tornado caused damage in Allendale County. WJBF News Channel 6 has been told that Cave United Methodist Church was destroyed during the storm.

The Barton Chapel Road area of south Augusta suffered some of the worst damage from Friday night’s storms. Fifty homes were damaged in this neighborhood, and there were a couple of minor injuries…

WJBF News Channel 6 Photojournalist Mike Ludwikowski surveyed the damage in Beech Island, SC including damage to a bank, trees covering roadways, and damage to a Dollar General store. He tells Brad Means what the scene was like.

In Grovetown, there was extensive damage off Robinson Avenue, near the fire department…that’s where the top of a tree snapped off and fell to the ground. A tree also fell into power lines at the corner of Pippin Street and Barbara Street. Another tree blocked Barbara Street completely,  after it fell into a transformer. WJBF News Channel 6’s Jennie Montgomery spoke to residents at the scene.

According to Columbia County EMA Director Pam Tucker, a tornado may have touched down Friday evening on Brown Road, near Harlem High School. Tucker says they are investigating to confirm the status of the damage. There are also several damage reports throughout the CSRA. Stay tuned to WJBF News Channel 6 and check back here on WJBF.com for the latest weather information.

Cleanup continues in storm-ravaged Hancock County, after a violent tornado touched down in the small community, Wednesday. One person was killed and several others injured. Count on WJBF News Channel 6’s Renita Crawford for the latest in this developing story.