NATCHEZ — Standing in the room that was once home to her artificial flowers, Brenda Williams, owner of Ja’nel’s Flowers and Gifts in Natchez, can’t help but smile.

With carpet still saturated over a week after the storm, the room that was once colored with flowers of all colors and types is now bare with mold and mildew taking over the walls.

But, even though the recent tornado basically ripped the roof off of her store, Williams positive attitude is apparent.

“You’ve got to deal with the cards that are dealt to you,” she said.

When the tornado blew through town on Dec. 9, it left a path of damage and destruction behind. But upon initial inspection, Williams thought her store had made it through the storm without any substantial damage.

“When they called me on Wednesday morning, they said we had a little damage,” Williams said.

But that was before ceiling literally fell in.

“The water just kept coming in and the walls and ceiling were saturated,” Williams said. “Then parts of the ceiling started falling in.”

Williams originally thought repairs would take only two weeks, but now repair estimates are six to seven weeks. She said not knowing the extent of the damage and supply delays have lengthened the repair time.

“The roofing materials were not available at first,” Williams said. “They were supposed to be here (Friday) but I haven’t seen them yet.”

The store, which is usually stuffed to the brim with Christmas items and floral arrangements is now completely bare. Williams has packed everything she thinks she will be able to salvage in two large portable storage units.

“I can’t even estimate now what the loss may be. I just started getting things out so the repairs could begin,” Williams said from inside one of the storage units. “And I’m sure there is stuff in here that will have mold or mildew on it.”

Luckily, Williams and her staff were able to fill all of the orders placed before the storm. She has also been pleased with the response from customers whose orders she could not fill.

“They have all been extremely supportive,” she said. “They all say ‘Honey, we’ll be back with you when you get reopened.’”

Despite the encouraging words, Williams knows there will be after effects from the storm, though she isn’t sure how severe.

“Of course you are always worried,” Williams said. “Anyime you have to be closed for six or seven weeks, not everyone is going to come back.”

But she said she has one saying that has kept her going though this ordeal.

“The Lord got me to it, and He’ll get me through it,” Williams said with a laugh. “At first there were days when I would laugh a little, then fuss a little and cry a little, but there is no hurdle we can’t overcome.”

Willliams closed the doors at the end of business on Saturday. She said the coming weeks will be an interesting time for her since she has never had to close for any substantial length of time.

“I’m going to have a nice vacation and a very merry Christmas,” she said. “Then I’ll get in here and see what is what.”