Rebuilding After the Storm: Our Tornado Story

That Life-Changing Day in 2014

In 2014, our lives changed forever when a tornado swept through our hometown, causing unimaginable destruction. At the time, my youngest was just three months old, and my oldest was about to turn four. It was a regular Saturday afternoon, and we were at my parents’ house, only a ten-minute drive away from our home. Looking back, I can’t help but feel grateful that we were somewhere safe, fleeing the chaos that was about to unfold.

The Tornado Hits

The tornado struck without warning, and though we were always cautious of storms, it was the nighttime ones we usually feared. In the days leading up to it, the strength of this storm had been predicted for nearly a week, which was one of the reasons we had gone to my mother’s storm shelter. My husband and the rest of my family joined us there. We could hear the eerie roar of the storm in the distance, not realizing it was heading straight for our home. It wasn’t until we received a phone call from our neighbors that we learned the full extent of the damage: all of our houses in the area had been hit. Our home was left without a roof, and others nearby had lost their entire houses.

Community Support and Rebuilding

When it was all over, the damage was devastating. Our home, which we had bought just a few years prior, was partially destroyed. My husband had gone ahead of me to assess the damage, and he told me that all he could do was drop to his knees and thank God that we weren’t home. Walking through the wreckage, I saw how the wall in my oldest daughter's room had collapsed across her bed. The sight of it was heartbreaking, but in the midst of that sorrow, we felt incredibly blessed. We were surrounded by the unwavering support of our community, family, and friends. Within days, our local church and businesses rallied to help, providing assistance and resources. We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love as people showed up to help clear the debris and offer essential supplies.

It amazed us how quickly help could arrive when we needed it most. In less than a week, we saw a transformation: our home reduced that was destroyed was slowly being cleared away, thanks to the efforts of many. It wasn’t just a home that was lost; it felt like a chapter of our lives had been wiped away in an instant. However, we learned that a house is just a setting—it’s the love and memories built within it that truly count.

With the support of our community and the strength we drew from one another, we made the decision to rebuild. Within a year, we had a new home built on the same concrete pad where our family had spent so many precious moments. It was a new beginning born from the ashes of disaster. Every time we stepped into our new home, we felt a sense of resilience and hope.

The Silver Lining

Although the tornado took our home, it also brought us closer to our neighbors, friends, and family. The experience taught us invaluable lessons about gratitude, love, and community. My husband and I both came to realize that the things we lost were replaceable, but the lives we were so fortunate to still have were not.

As we celebrate the progress we’ve made, I often reflect on how that day changed us. Tornadoes may destroy buildings, but they can never touch the foundations of love and support that hold us together. Each year, as storm season approaches, we remember that day—acknowledging the destruction, but also celebrating the incredible strength of our community that rose from the wreckage.