GoFundMe page created for Burall family to help cover cost of tornado damage

Feb. 12--When an EF1 tornado moved through Frederick County on Friday, it brought with it winds up to 105 mph and severe damage to the Monrovia farm where Wayne Burall Jr., his wife, his son, and the former caretaker for Catherine Burall, the owner of the estate, live.

Now, Steve McKay has helped set up a GoFundMe account to help cover some of the damage.

McKay, a Frederick County Council member and New Market resident, stressed that he started the GoFundMe page as a neighbor, not in his capacity as a council member.

"I find it very heartwarming that when people do face like a really difficult time, you know, especially something as unusual as this, that the outpouring of support that comes from people really does help you realize how much people care and that it is -- we live in a good community and people do care," said Teresa Crum, the daughter of Catherine Burall.

The GoFundMe page has raised more than $8,000 of a $10,000 goal.

Crum said electricity and water have been restored since the tornado Friday.

The crop farm is in the 11000 block of Fingerboard Road.

A 60-by-80-foot barn, two 60-foot silos, a shed, vehicles, an adjacent home and the siding and a window on a farmhouse were damaged in the tornado.

Debris is still strewn across the property.

Crum said the family hopes to get some roll-off dumpsters and plan a cleanup, but it can't be done right away because of the wet weather.

The insurance company has been out to survey the farm, but not the adjacent house. The family believes that the structure of the barn will be covered, but not the contents, which included tools and small appliances such as a lawn mower and pressure washer.

Crum estimated that the cost of damage is more than $100,000.

McKay visited the farm Saturday morning.

"They had a lot of damage and loss, and I wanted to help," he said.

The proceeds from the GoFundMe account will go directly to the family, and McKay said he hopes they use the funds for whatever their needs are.

Follow Hannah Himes on Twitter: @hannah_himes.

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