We are finally home in Creston. It's such a relief! We'd been pouring over photos, videos and written accounts of the storm and aftermath. Now we can see it for ourselves, and talk to those who lived through it.
It seems to be almost like grief. I believe re-telling of trauma can be therapeutic. We heard some stories last night at The Lobby when we met Bobbie, Jeff and Deb (Larry was in Iowa City covering Collin Bevins for the New Advertiser at a wrestling superstar thing) for a drink and pizza (ordered in from nearby A&G).
- Bobbie and Jeff said the actual tornado was over in scant seconds - B ran to get her purse before going downstairs. When she got to the top of the stairs, it was over! Jeff says she should leave the damn purse - next time. They live just west of the hospital complex and after the storm, they ventured that direction to see where debris that had hit their house and yard had come from (a picture frame flew through their garage window and their yard was scattered with someone's belongings and treelimbs). After driving over some downed power lines, they saw the firetruck pull up to the hospital, and decided to go west to get to neighbors to the south.
- Upon arrival, they found the Scott family, whose home was hit, in stunned shock but okay physically. Windows were broken and part of the roof gone from their beautiful home. Jeff said the walls were coated with leaves and grass. People began to show up with tarps right away. Folks went about securing things as best they could.
- Deb told the story of a track coach for Creston High School, Pat Schlapia. He's a bit of a throwback when it comes to technology, so Saturday after evening Mass, he went to the middle school to make copies of results from Friday night's Panther Relays for Deb's sports news guy husband. Whilst in the school, a tornado hits! He heard debris flying, the heat/air units fly off the roof. When he arrived back at his Ford truck parked a the curb - the back window is gone due to flying debris - but he drives to Peterson's house with papers. When they see his truck, all dented and battered they're wondering about his sanity!
- Jeff and Bobbie's neighbors, Dave and Sharon Moffitt watched their pool cover take off like a parachute when the tornado passed. They looked at each other in awe. Moffitts now have 3 college students living at their home. (The college dorms were pretty beat up by the twister). We all agreed that those students won't likely do anything during their stay that Moffitts 4 daughters (now grown up) didn't already think of...
- Jon Carroll was taking a hot bath when the twister hit, while Roxanne escaped to the basement. He agreed that it would have been embarrassing to be naked if the house was wiped out, but said he'd heard the tub was a safe place to be. He says he may take to the basement next time.
- Dennis Leith suffered the devastating loss of his log home - a place with a lot of history to his family. He grew up there, and raised his family there. The family hosted football fundraisers in the barn (now gone) and class reunions were held there, complete with live band according to my roomie, Joan. A desk in the home (250 lb!) was missing in action. The storm wiped out huge beautiful trees around the home. Dennis vows to rebuild.
- I quickly read through storm coverage in the Creston News Advertiser when we arrived home yesteray. Several of the stories and accounts touched me, but the column by Creston School Superintenent Tim Hood (he's a gruff kinda guy who isn't naturally grateful) makes my eyes well up - even now when I think of it. I would link it if I could figure out how, but I'll have to paraphrase.
We have received calls from neighboring districts, various colleges, community groups, as well as the Salvation Army and the Red Cross with offers of assistance. ...FEMA officials were incredulous that so many people came to help in such a short time span. Well folks - that's the Midwest, that's Iowa that's CRESTON.
(Someone asked) "Why are so many people here?" ...the answer is we are a family. "Panther Pride" was on public display for the state to see, and we've done ourselves proud.
There's no way we can thank every person who helped after the disaster....many came and slipped quietly away without fanfare....
He goes on to thank the officials like fire, emergency responders, utility workers etc.
The response of my community to this disaster just makes me so darn proud. Bobbie said Todd and Lori Scott were so surprised at how many people showed up at their house to help them - people they didn't really know or consider "friends". It brings back memories of when our baby Patrick died.
People are so generous by nature - my faith in humanity is restored. Temporarily, anyway.
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