ST. LOUIS – Block by block in north St. Louis, they’ve been going up and down, taking pictures of the damage from the tornado.

“And they go block by block to look at all the homes that have been affected,” said Ryan Lowry-Lee, FEMA Public Affairs. What that is is a preliminary damage assessment to provide data to the state as they make a request for a disaster declaration.”

Taking pictures. Taking notes. Taking in the scale of the destruction from Friday’s tornado that swept through St. Louis.

“If people see folks in groups of four to six people walking up and down the street,” Lowry-Lee said. “Those are our damage assessment teams. They’re not knocking on doors or going inside buildings. They’re really just doing more of a 360 look at the structure to get an idea of the size and scope of the damage.”

Preliminary damage assessments.

Since Wednesday morning, FEMA representatives have been walking block by block with members of the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration.

Assessments are being conducted for the next steps, as residents of St. Louis are still in shock from the tornado and its aftermath.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my lifetime,” said Donald Thomas. “It’s bad.  Houses are ripped from foundations down to the ground. Luckily, I do have insurance. I just need a good bricklayer and a roofer, and this house can be saved and I’m sure there are plenty of others. We just need good contractors to come into our community and not take advantage of our community.”

Officials say they don’t want people to hold off on their recovery; if you have homeowners’ or renters’ insurance and have been impacted, FEMA encourages you to file those claims.

“All I heard was me calling Jesus,” said Derek Snider, who Lived through the roof collapse.  “I didn’t hear the freight train. It was just wind like you’ve never seen. 1896 was an F4.  This was an F3. I ain’t got to say anything else.”