Family's Home Rebuilt In Moore After Problems With Previous Contractor

Construction crews in Moore are a common sight after the devastating tornado of 2013. Many families are still waiting to go home. But for one family, that wait is over.

“It's a good feeling to know we're going to get back to some kind of normality again. We're not going to constantly wonder what we are going to do with that house that's not built,” “John Smith” said. Because of his occupation, News9 has agreed to change his name.

When the tornado hit, Smith, his wife and five children lost everything. They were forced to live in a hotel, the homes of family, and finally a rented home. The family was also paying double for rent and mortgages.

“You kind of get to a point where you think things will never be the same again,” Smith said.”

The family tried to rebuild, hiring a contractor just after the damage was done. But things went bad. After paying the contractor $25,000, they began to see the work was never going to get done. In September 2014, they fired the contractor and began looking for other outlets for help.

“We gave him enough money, we thought he'll go buy materials and things will really start happening. But he never would purchase any materials. He would just tear things out and never add anything to the home.”

“It was a mess. We came in and half the house was damaged by the storm,” Said Erich Font. Font works as a manager for Habitat for Humanity’s Critical Home Repair program.

Crews from HFH spent the next year rebuilding the Smith’s home. Smith said he was humbled by the experience, hoping his story can help others.

“Let other people help you if they offer to help you and not be so afraid to take it and at the same time be willing to step up and help others,” he said.