On the night of January 7 one of 23 tornadoes that touched areas west and north of us created horrible devastation at the home of our friends, Jim & Terry Warren. We were neighbors for fifteen years and our boys were and still are best friends. As their home was pelted with golf ball size hail, they decided it was time to leave, but it was too late. Terry with daughter and her family were in the car trying to get out as the tornado hit. As a green farm gate wrapped itself around the back of the car, the windows blew out filling their hair and clothes with glass. Jim, having gone back into the house to blow out some lamps, was just leaving the house when things began swirling around him. He took refuge under his pickup holding on to the bumper for dear life. He said it was over in 30 seconds.
What took 30 seconds to destroy has changed their lives forever. Milk barn, Hay barn, sheds and 70 feet of the shop - gone. Roof torn from the house, doors and windows blown out all but make the home unlivable but they are there. Sheets of plywood cover door and window openings, tarps cover the roof and they are making do. At least five cows were killed and their dairy cattle sold at a great loss.
Neal and LeaAnn were there last Saturday to lend helping hands. There have been many who helped pile and burn what was burnable and put into piles those items which are not burnable. Ashton, Erin and I went today just to see our friends and cherish the fact that they are alive.
Although it was a sunny day, it was still single digit temperatures and there was a crew of men trying to put roofing back on what remains of the shop. It was so cold that caulking would freeze as it came from the caulk gun.
Someday things will be better, but right now they're just pretty rotten. Terry said she feels like she is living a nightmare, but with that being said is so thankful that her family is safe. There will be a new granddaughter born Sunday. Thank God she waited a few days to enter this world.
I brought home pictures of their place, but one just has to see it to fully realize the extent of damage.
Although it was a sunny day, it was still single digit temperatures and there was a crew of men trying to put roofing back on what remains of the shop. It was so cold that caulking would freeze as it came from the caulk gun.
Someday things will be better, but right now they're just pretty rotten. Terry said she feels like she is living a nightmare, but with that being said is so thankful that her family is safe. There will be a new granddaughter born Sunday. Thank God she waited a few days to enter this world.
I brought home pictures of their place, but one just has to see it to fully realize the extent of damage.
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