HEMPFIELD (KDKA) — A tornado hit Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, exactly one year ago and some people are still reeling from its effects.

Nearly 200 families were affected and some people are facing financial and legal difficulties.

Barbara Lotz was one of 17 property owners who hired Prime Roofing Systems, based in Texas, to repair her roof.

She was also one 17 owners to learn a mechanic’s lien had been placed on her property because Prime Roofing didn’t pay nearly $65,000 in material fees to ABC Supply Company in North Huntingdon.

Earlier this week, Prime Roofing owner Stephen Hunt was charged with 17 counts of theft.

“It was like, fantastic,” Lotz said. “He gets to pay for what he did or at least answer for what he did, but without the detectives we couldn’t have done it on our own. They were great.”

Lotz praised detectives for their quick work and State Sen. Kim Ward who plans to introduce legislation that would keep subcontractors for seeking liens against homeowners who already paid a prime contractor in full.

“It’s inspiring because people don’t realize it can happen to them – it has nothing to do with your contractor being out of state, being storm chasers as they’re calling them – it can happen to anyone and you just have to be aware that without the proper legislation – you don’t want to pay for anything twice,” Lotz said.

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