Nearly four months after tornadoes ripped through the northwest Georgia town of Ringgold, many of the businesses have either reopened or will soon reopen.
One person was killed and numerous homes and businesses were either destroyed or damaged by the tornadoes April 27.
Motorists who exit I-75 southbound will see a sign at Exit 348 telling them downtown Ringgold businesses are open. Among those are Cochran's Furniture, Aunt Effie's Restaurant, Taco Bell and Walter Jackson Chevrolet.
Work is also underway on the KFC, Waffle House, and Hardee's. Four of the town's hotels are still awaiting repair.
Mayor Joe Barger credits church groups and other volunteers for the progress in the cleanup effort.
"These are the people that's really doing more towards restoring Ringgold... FEMA is helping to a point but not like the volunteers," he tells WSB's Sandra Parrish.
Ringgold High School and Middle Schools, both heavily damaged in the storms, will also reopen September 6.