'People here want to know how they were forgotten': Tornado victims sound off at meeting

Tawnia Cope-Crain holds her daughters Morgan and Tamlyn Crain outside their house, which sustained significant damage in Tuesday's tornado in Port Orchard as neighbors move their belongings out of the house next door, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Cope-Crain was home with her husband and older daughter at the time of the tornado. less Tawnia Cope-Crain holds her daughters Morgan and Tamlyn Crain outside their house, which sustained significant damage in Tuesday's tornado in Port Orchard as neighbors move their belongings out of the house ... more Photo: GENNA MARTIN, GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GENNA MARTIN, GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 96 Caption Close 'People here want to know how they were forgotten': Tornado victims sound off at meeting 1 / 96 Back to Gallery

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. -- Neighbors in Kitsap County are struggling to get back to normal after a tornado hit Port Orchard almost two weeks ago. During a town hall meeting Sunday evening, Kitsap County officials say they've now transitioned into long-term recovery mode.

"I lost everything, we lost everything, every single thing," said Skip Olmstead.

For 46 years, Olmstead has lived at Melody Village in Port Orchard, until Dec. 18 when the tornado took it all away.

"My place and the end of the cul de sac was the epicenter," he said.

Olmstead and his wife Darlene are one of many directly affected by the tornado who attended the meeting looking for answers.

RELATED: Port Orchard neighbors band together after tornado destruction

"People here want to know how they were forgotten," said Dave Mullins, whose girlfriend's home was damaged by the tornado.

Neighbors were asking why there wasn't more help after the first couple days, adding they needed a stronger police presence for protection.

"They should have been here every day," Mullins said. "The looting we had during daytime; people were dressed up like workers to get in."

Mullins, a retired 30-year firefighter, said neighbors had to patrol their own properties at night to keep looters out, but that didn't stop everyone.

RELATED: NWS team determines strength of Tuesday Port Orchard tornado, assess damage

"Somebody was brave enough to crawl through this dangerous broken garage and steal what tool I needed the most – my chainsaw for God's sake, not only one - but two," Olmstead said.

Other neighbors voiced concern about the high price to discard debris at the local dump. Some suggested the fee should have been waived for tornado debris.

"Because of the scale of the disaster there is no funding coming in from the federal government to help us," said Pat Campbell, who is the solid waste division manager for Kitsap County Public Works.

The EF2 tornado cut a swath 1.4 miles long, destroying 20 homes and severely damaging 28 more. But damage estimates so far fall short of the $10 million needed to trigger federal disaster aid.

"It's clear they have not felt a coordinated effort has addressed their issues – we heard that, I heard that loud and clear and we'll be taking that back tomorrow," said Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido.

So for now neighbors will continue helping neighbors get through a disaster no one saw coming.

A long-term recovery group is being established to help tornado victims with long-term financial and emotional needs.