You’ve been warned. Caught in the vortex, spinning, turning, stripped naked. When it’s over, lives are shattered, but you are one of the lucky ones, you survived. I am metaphorically connected.
On a recent trip to Tennessee, I saw firsthand the destruction of the April 27th Tornado outbreak. I visited the town of Apison, TN and Ringgold GA. What I saw moved me to tears, and the stories of survival were so amazing I wanted to share them here. The stories are first and second hand accounts of individual survival.
My Son-in-law was staying with his mother about a mile from the site of destruction in Apison, TN. They were a mile from the Tornado touchdown. They local government put a plea out on the TV for anyone with any medical knowledge to please come to the local elementary school to assist in triage. The Fire Department and emergency personnel were unable to reach them because the roads were blocked by fallen trees and debris. Son-in-law is in school to become a Physician’s Assistant and lived one block from the school. He went. Survivors walked in covered in so much blood and mud it was impossible to determine the extent of injuries until they were rinsed off. Some came in naked as the tornado had stripped off their clothes. SIL couldn’t really share too much, still too fresh a memory.
Apison, TN- a mother, grandmother and 3 children, huddled against a wall, mom and grandmother shielding the children pressed against the wall. When it was over, that was the only wall in the home standing.
- Large southern colonial home (8,000sq ft.), the family huddled in the closet under the winding staircase. It’s all that is left of the home. (Picture below)
9 people lost their lives in Apison. It was an EF-4.
Ringgold, GA- This is the town my daughter will teach in next year. They lost so much, including a school.
-a woman saw the twister coming over the Food Lion and only had time to hit the floor of her SUV. Her car was moved across the parking lot and the roof opened like a tin can, windows blown out. She survived.
-a woman and her children were stopping at Taco Bell. She left the 2 older children in the car when she went in to get her food. She wondered why there was no one at the counter. The employees were already in the cooler. The manager came out a screamed at her to get in the cooler, but she panicked and grabbed the child and ran to the car to get the other children, too late. She had all kids on the floor of the car, shielded be her body. The car was totaled, but they all survived.
-A woman saw it coming down the road, tried to out run it and her car was picked up, and set down 100 yards later. She survived.
-workers at a gas station huddled in the walkin cooler. That’s all that’s left of the gas station.
Ringgold also had the EF-4 before it reached Apison.
I saw; many teams of volunteers among the wreckage, convoys of relief teams, local volunteers, not government teams, on the highway, a real since of community helping community. The stories of survival are as uplifting as the destruction is devastating.
With Hurricane Season fast approaching, it reinforced the resolve to Be Prepared and pay attention!
No home left, just a car and the pool slide.
All thats left of a Colonial Mansion
There are 2 cars in there
This is how it looked after the storm, nothing left!
Even the Bear can't look.
You want fries with that?
Daughter thought it looked like ACE Hardware had dreadlocks.
The bank on the other side of the parking lot from the Food Lion.
The Food Lion. West of I-75
West side of I-75. All that's left is the walkin coolers
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My brother lives near Ringgold --- so much destruction.
One of the guys he works with on the TN side, near Chattanooga found a paycheck - it was from Jasper, AL. That means that check traveled about 175 miles.
It's all so unbelievably sad...
Thanks Blu for sharing your experiences.
So much devastation, just heartbreaking. :(
Thanks for sharing their stories, Blu.
175 miles! Wow!!
Mother nature's power is truly humbling.
Awsome pictures Blu.... tears running. Thank God your SIL was able to help. So many lost so much. How do you ever recover from the loss physically and mentally? I can't believe the destruction. Those lives saved will never be the same again.
Thank you for sharing. You are right we need to prepare and be ready for the hurricane season.
I so totally understand
Horrific...
Just now seeing these photos of the tornado damage.. yes, seen a lot of that growing up in NE Arkansas...
it does make it real once you have experience it yourself.
Tornadoes are much worse than hurricanes.
Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
Happy Birthday, lady! I hope you have something wonderful planned - I hear the whole country is going to shoot off some fireworks in your honor!
Was scheduled to work today, traded it out tho' I shouldnt have. I would have made "sympathy" tips...LOL
I know I wished you a HBD on FB hours ago but wanted to come here to your WU blog also..
so Happy Happy Birthday to you...
you little Yankee Doodle Dandy!!!
Enjoy your special Birthday!!!
Hope you pop back in here for a while, I went and found your old blog! LOL
Just wanted to say over here on WU, Have a great weekend.
Enjoy!
Happy October!
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Happy Halloween to you..
I know you are on FB most of the time these days.
but still.. like I told Donna... WU first!
Hope you are not as wet as we are!
Happy Halloween my WU Friends!!!
Enjoy your evening!!!
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Hope to see you at Aubie's blog on June 1st :)
Almost 2 years ago...where has the time gone?
FB stole my anonymity. I used to be just Blu, able to post thoughts, feelings and happinin's. Cant now, here or there.
However, my Best Friends are still my WU/nowFB friends.
My life was saved, valued, and perpetuated by the people I met here. I will always be indebted to and grateful for the days, hours, weeks, years and friends here-you know who you are.
Maybe after this weekend of a FL WU meet up, I will resume my blog posts here.
I never felt anonymous here OR on FB. Folks read my jitterymoose blog here and know who it is (probably because I have that silly "jitterymoose" bumper sticker on my car... >.<), and FB? Well, yeah, I probably tend to put out too much there, too. I hadn't been here -- I mean, not until the earthquake. Now, I'm back here, too. At least I'm trying to be. Lots of changes everywhere. Stunning photographs you captured. They remind me of Julia's and Sushi's descriptions -- and of a fellow Wrimo's photos tossed up on her blog soon after.
Take Care. Nice to see you again. ^__^
I was wondering about you not too long ago. I figured you had left for FB. So many have, over the past 4 or 5 years. I know the appeal, esp for folks with lots of family online but I've stayed here, snuggled in my little WU nest! lol
Had a blast with your doppleganger this past Sunday. Gosh, she has seen so much. My Guy had to give her a big hug. He had missed her since our July 2010 Keys getaway. He was a bit reluctant that she came with us, but so welcomed her...no judging. Just like he did this past Sunday.
Miles apart, but so much the same. Defined by environment. But still the same.
Gracious, Im getting philosophical.
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