Missing roofs, flattened fences and smashed windows are the visual reminders of Levin's tornado, but for the residents it's the terrifying memories that will last longer.
As hundreds of volunteers mucked in for a cleanup, the frightening stories emerged of a storm so powerful 30 buildings were damaged.
One day on from Levin's deadly tornado and the pain is clear to see. Lisa Miller's uninhabitable home brings back the memory of Friday morning's horror.
"I saw a massive, massive cloud, whirlwind of debris coming for me. I got my dogs, hit the ground and tried to huddle up in blankets so we didn't get smashed glass on us," she told Newshub.
It all began at 6:30am on Friday when the tornado ripped through the small Horowhenua town.
"I got stuck in the bedroom for a little bit, had to clear the debris to get back out into the hallway to find out what the damage was," Miller said.
The twister took with it roofs, trees and even cars went flying.
"Saw the bro's red car getting blown away, rolling down the road here," one resident told Newshub.
"Woke my missus up and said 'babe the bro's car is blowing down the road'... so yeah was pretty out of it."
Today more than 250 volunteers came together to help clean up the big mess.
"I had the means and able to do it, I had the chainsaw, ute and trailer so got stuck in," one person said.
"It had to be cleaned up and cleaned up pretty quick and more hands make lighter work," another added.
A sausage sizzle helped keep the troops going and spirits high.
"It's been quite extraordinary, I'm really proud of this community and what they've done," said Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden.
Despite today's much better weather, it doesn't mask the long trail of destruction that the tornado left behind.
A mayoral relief fund has been set up to help the recovery with the Government matching the council’s $100,000 contribution.
"Making sure people are housed and bedded and things like that, and of course the cleanup and what that looks like," said Otaki MP Terisa Ngobi.
While the total cost is unknown more than 196 insurance claims have been made so far.
"There's a number of houses that are quite badly affected, insurer assessors are already out of seen it'll be ongoing for some time," Wanden said.
Time for Miller and her dogs to recover and rebuild from their whirlwind 24 hours.
