About 50 National Guard troops, residents and volunteers helped with the cleanup while The Salvation Army had mobile canteens to provide counselling and meals to residents and rescue workers.

On Sunday more than 100 people gathered around the rubble of the demolished Lady Lake Church of God. A gospel choir sang and clapped on a makeshift stage.

The church's splintered wreckage has become a rallying point in this rural area hit hard by the three tornadoes that killed 20 people and destroyed hundreds of homes early last Friday.