Eleven families are displaced in D.C. after fierce winds tore insulation from the roof of their public housing apartment building during Wednesday night's severe weather.
Residents and neighbors said debris was flying in the air as they were evacuated from the building on K Street SE.
"It sounded like the building was falling," said resident Shirlen Robinson.
"When I came out to exit the building, there was debris flying around everywhere, dust in there, people in a panic mode, but orderly," said resident Dodie Perkins.
The D.C. Housing Authority said 11 families were taken to the nearby Capitol Skyline Hotel, where they can stay for two days.
Some residents returned to the apartment building Thursday afternoon to pick up some of their belongings as crews worked to repair the damaged roof.
Many residents said they don't know where they will go if the repairs take longer than two days.
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"We got a large family - six in the family," said resident Tonya Mackey.
"We're concerned about the housing that we're going to be moved into - if we got to be relocated or what. Nobody's given us no clear word about anything," Perkins said.
The housing authority did not give an exact estimate of how long the repairs will take, but said most families will be allowed to return to their homes "soon."
