Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Tornado Damage

Yesterday, my son helped clear trees and debris at tornado-damaged farms south of us. He took the photos on this post. The farms are located northwest of Dunkerton.

****************

****************


Keep in mind that no one died or was injured at any of these locations. The residents were either away from home at the time of the storm, or they were hunkered down in the basement with their loved ones.
Much post-storm activity at the farmstead shown in the next photo.......corn needed to be trucked away from a collapsed bin.......and livestock removed from fallen buildings. Machinery sheds all blew down.......the back half of the house roof is gone........and see the mangled trees.




SO MANY trees went down!


This entire neighborhood is simply a mess of devastation. It leaves me stunned and speechless. I grew up on this road.......my brother lives at the homeplace now; his house survived intact, but the roof over the bedroom area was peeled away. Rain poured in and the ceilings fell down. My brother says they can sleep under the stars now!





My brother videotaped the tornado bearing down on the neighborhood........that is, until he saw the neighbor's bins and buildings being popped into the air like ping-pong balls, he said. Then he decided it was time to run to the basement to join his wife and children. His video is on the KDSM-TV website (within the video link entitled "Survivors Recall Moments of Terror").


So much material loss in the area! As I imagine those folks hunkered down in their basements with the monster storm roaring overhead, I imagine that in such a moment your priorities are completely galvanized. You know what truly matters, and it is the people huddled with you. That is it. You have no control over what's going on above you; as long as your loved ones are safe, that's what counts.









13 comments:

Rebecca Ryan said...

It completely destroys the sense of security, doesn't it!

Jeannelle said...

Hi, Rebecca,

Yes, you are certainly correct about that!

Pat - Arkansas said...

What a terrible sight! The photos really bring home the horrible devastation caused by tornados. We're so thankful that your family and your brother's family are safe. He has a great attitude about sleeping under the stars, with his roof gone! May God bless you all. = Pat

Jeannelle said...

Hi, Pat,

Yes, my brother is somehow keeping his good humor about the whole situation. Probably, because he knows it could have been SO much worse!

Mary Connealy said...

Jeannelle, I've been mia for a few days. Crazy weekend. I'm so glad everyone's okay. My daughter's good friens grandparents live in that area and had their home destroyed, but though a bit battered, they're okay.

rhymeswithplague said...

Our area of Georgia, Cherokee County, had similar tornado damage last Tuesday night, but without any loss of life. Over 1100 homes damaged and many, many trees snapped in half. So glad none of your family was hurt.

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

These photos really bring it home. Thanks for posting them. It will be a long time before the area looks the way it did before the storm.

Jeannelle said...

Mary,

I'm glad you're found. Sorry to hear of your daughter's friends getting hit, but glad to hear they're OK.

************

rhymeswithplague,

Its just been a terrible storm season so far, all over the country.


Thank you both for your kind comments.

Judy said...

Wow...incredible damage. It sounds like the area around my brother's farm suffered the same fate...although they have only hail damage at their place.

Egghead said...

Wow! I am stunned at the devastation that nature can bring. Much love and prayers to your family and others. Bless you for helping to clean up.

rhymeswithplague said...

Not to get all theological on you, but do you consider a tornado "an act of God"? I don't. That old rebellious angel (Lucifer, Satan) is called the prince of the power of the air, and earth seems to be his temporary sphere of activity until he is finally cast into the lake of fire along with death and hell. In the meantime, he does have power (within limits, of course). He is a deceiver, and he wants to take as many people as he can with him when he goes.

God, on the other hand, is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth.

End of sermon.

Country Girl said...

This is absolutely stunning and sad. After all that snow you had, Jeannelle, and now this.

Jeannelle said...

I certainly appreciate and enjoy all your comments!

To rhymeswithplague: My mom used to say, too, that the devil was "the prince of the power of the air", implying that storms are in his domain. I don't know. I certainly DO NOT believe that areas that get hit by a tornado or a typhoon or whatever somehow "deserve" it.