As many across the country survey storm damage, the people of Washington, Illinois are well on their way to rebuilding after a tornado damaged or destroyed one thousand homes on November 17, 2013.
As some mourn what was, there are painted promises of what will be.
“For us it was never a thought not to rebuild,” said Dianna Wara who is originally from East Moline, Illinois.
On November 17, 2013, Dianna Wara lost everything. Nearly six months later, nails and water seal sit in what will be her kitchen.
“I know it won't be an easy quick process by any means, but it does give you hope,” she said.
A look out her living room, you can see and hear the rebuilding process.
“It's good because I know that my house is going up again, but it's still hard, you come through and you look and it looks like a bomb has went off in this area and then you have some rebuilding going back up, so it's a good feeling too,” said Wara.
“It's been such a long couple of months, of seeing just nothing and now to see like all the walls, kind of going up to see doors and windows, and, it's just hard to describe,” said Lesa Hohulin.
She saw the frame of her new house for the first time Wednesday, April 30, 2014.
“It was just great to see the walls going up in the rooms and what we used to have, it's going to be back,” said Hohulin.
There are still colored walls exposed. Broken trees mark the landscape and a rocking horse still sits in a driveway.
“We're going to have to start all over again, with buying everything and just getting on with life. It's hard,” said Wara.
But one way or another, the town of Washington will return.