In her mind, the 49-year-old mother of two went back and forth between thinking they would be safe and thinking this was the end.

*Tornado risk is calculated from the destruction path that has occured within 30 miles of the location. "But even still, the city has a long road back to recovery. IT WAS A BIG CRASH. Watch the reports above for the latest look at the damage. >> IT WAS LOUD. Every time Kelli Patterson has turned on to her Adams Subdivision cul-de-sac in downtown Seneca over the past week, she relives the night of the Easter tornado. We've got mobile laundry units. "So right now we're hot and heavy into community support." YOU HAVE BEEN SHOWING US DAMAGE. The wait has had them "twiddling their thumbs," Patterson said. 0255 pm tornado 6 sse seneca 36.76n 94.56w 05/19/2017 mcdonald mo nws storm survey an ef-1 tornado with estimated winds of 90 mph touched down along the newton-mcdonald county line southeast of seneca. YOU SEE THAT BOAT DOCK. We are getting a better look at the damage in Seneca and around Lake Hartwell after a possible tornado touched down in this area overnight. THAT IS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW STRONG THESE WIND GUSTS WERE. IT IS BOTH OF THEM LANDING ON TOP OF THE BEDS. Patterson, like many in Seneca, is going to keep putting one foot in front of the other until she reaches a point of normalcy, whatever that may look like after a tornado and the pandemic. NOW TO CLEMSON, OR TOP -- WHERE TAGGART HOUCK IS LIVE. NO WORD YET ON REALLY WHAT THE DAMAGE IS HERE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE "That's about all we can do right now," she said. More coverage below: But to her 14-year-old, autistic son, she whispered, "Jude, it's going to be okay. IT WAS SCARY. ALLEN: EVERYBODY IS OK? AS SOON AS I GOT IN THE BATHTUB, THE TREE CAME DOWN. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE AREAS OF DAMAGE WE HAVE SEEN. "We don't know what we're supposed to do at this point. Manufacturer BASF, which has a plant in Seneca, donated $50,000 to the city's tornado relief fund, which will go towards helping property and business owners get back on their feet, according to a company press release. They know the home – Bill's childhood home that they own outright after buying from his late-mother – is totally lost. YOU CAN SEE THAT TREE UPROOTED AND THEN YOU HAVE A ANOTHER ONE THAT CAME ACROSS. MY DOORS WERE OPEN. The National Weather Service said the tornado hit around 3:20am with estimated winds of 160 miles per hour. AGAIN, THAT LIGHTING IS CRUCIAL NOW IN SEEING WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THE SUN IS STARTING TO COME UP. Get local stories sent straight to your inbox as news breaks.We are getting a better look at the damage in Seneca and around Lake Hartwell after a possible tornado touched down in this area overnight. "We've got mobile shower units set up. In Seneca, the EF3 tornado claimed one life and damaged over 200 homes, according to SCEMD. For people like the Pattersons, clearing the wreckage, demolishing their home and completely rebuilding from scratch could take over a year, Bill Patterson said.In the seven days since the storm, Patterson has reached a point where she can look forward. "Now a week later, Patterson, her husband, Bill, and Patton stand among the rubble of their home.The Pattersons are just one of hundreds of families whose lives were turned upside down after an estimated 21 tornadoes swept across the state in the early morning of April 13. THE NEIGHBORS ARE STARTING TO SURVEY A LOT OF THE DAMAGE WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS MORNING. Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency in light of the tornado damage last week, so now it's up to the federal government to determine who will get federal aid in Seneca, Moulder said. Huddled together in a small hallway closet with her husband and son, Patterson felt the wind batter their one-story home.

ALLEN: IT IS CONTINUING. THE OWNER HERE SAYS THERE IS DAMAGE AND HE WILL HAVE TO WORK ON THAT. Snapped pine trees rise 30 to 40 feet tall around the home, the trunks ending in sharp points where the twister's 160 mph winds tore them apart in the early morning storm.Bill's work truck was dug out of a mud hole last week. IT APPEARS TO BE TWISTED AND THAT IS WHERE IT FELL ALONG THAT HOUSE. Patterson's home was extensively damaged after an EF3 tornado with 160 mph winds swept through the area last week. WE WILL BRING YOU LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE DAY. It's going to be okay. WE ARE GETTING A BETTER LOOK AT DAMAGE. >> MY MOM CAME IN THERE AND GOT ME AND PUT ME IN THE BATHTUB. ©2020, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV.

THE HOMEOWNER IS NOT SURE WHAT THAT DAMAGE IS. The tornado's path swept right through the Patterson's property on Oxford Circle. A friend started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the eventual home rebuild.
Kelli Patterson walks through the hallway of her home in Seneca Monday, April 20, 2020. THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ATTACHED TO THIS WHITE RAILING. Moulder said the city is still in response mode — it could be weeks or months before people can get back inside their damaged or ruined homes, depending on the extent of damage and the availability of contractors. Watch on Demand Statewide, nine people lost their lives and over 1,000 homes have severe damage, according to the State Emergency Management Division.In Seneca, the EF3 tornado claimed one life and damaged over 200 homes, according to SCEMD.

Early surveys estimate $250 million in damages to the city of 8,000 people and rebuilding efforts will take months, Moulder said. ALLEN: WHAT DID THAT SOUND LIKE?

"We've been told that the Red Cross is coming. Gov. YOU HAVE TREES REALLY BACK HERE. CAN WE GET A SHOT? We are getting a better look at the damage in Seneca and around Lake Hartwell after a possible tornado touched down in this area overnight.