CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The cleanup process continues after an EF-1 tornado ripped through a Claremont neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. The storm killed 39-year-old Dustin Weaver and injured four others.

“It blew the front part of our roof off, blew the front windows out, and when it did that, it blew the sliding glass door out the back of the house and sucked our little dog out,” said resident Eddie Teague.

Teague says the storm came and went in an instant.

“There was people over at that pile of rubble scrambling around, trying to get somebody out. So I ran over there and I said, ‘Is there somebody in this?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ So we dug two people out,” Teague said.

One of the two was Weaver. His close friend, Jacob Christian says Weaver died a hero.

“He was a good man. All he did was protect his wife and his baby and that’s all he lived for,” Christian said. “My heart broke yesterday when I found out after everything happened. It was just catastrophic.”

Teague was reunited with his dog, Rascal, three hours after the storm had passed with no injuries. Teague says the damage to his home is nothing compared to seeing Rascal return.

“I was distraught. I wasn’t worried about none of this. I was worried about him. He’s what makes me wanna get up every day and live, that little dog right there,” Teague said.

Teague says that his house can be repaired and that he is greateful the community came together in support.

“I really don’t know what to think. I’m hurt inside but I’m thankful. I’m thankful that we’re alive and we got our dog and that was good enough for me,” he said.

Dozens of volunteers have been helping clean up the rubble, and the Red Cross says it will provide assistance and shelter as long as needed.