Crews from the City of Columbus’s Department of Public Works left yesterday to assist with clean-up efforts in Kokomo after a line of tornadoes caused damage to over 1,000 homes. Those clean-up efforts are expected to last another three to five weeks.

Dave Hayward, Executive Director of the Department of Public Works, says the city sent a crew of four employees and four pieces of heavy equipment. They will remain in Kokomo through the end of the week assisting with work such as clearing fallen trees.

Hayward says that the gesture is a small way to pay-back the municipalities throughout Indiana that came to Columbus’ aid after the flood of 2008.