Storm Stories

Before I share some of the stories I've been reading from the once-in-a-lifetime storms that devastated Alabama last week, I have one cute story (totally unrelated) to tell.  Last Wednesday I drove to a nearby convenience store to buy an energy drink to inspire my tired brain before preaching at our evening service.  As I pulled up to the store I heard a noise from the truck parked next to me, and realized it was a little girl who was leaning over her mother to bark at me through the window (much to her mother's embarrassment).  I went into the store, then realized that I'd left my wallet in the truck.  As I walked back outside the same little girl (now on her way into the store) growled at me as I passed.  I overheard her mother say something like, "OK, you are going to stop this before we go in!"  I retrieved my wallet and went back in, and was followed around the store by a small person who continued her ferocious barking and growling.  As I passed the mother I said, "Boy, you just can't take dogs anywhere these days!"  She looked at me with a puzzled expression, then smiled and said, "I know, right?"  I threw her a lifeline to spare her some embarrassment  - remembering how mortified my parents used to be when I would crawl around on the floor as an alligator in public settings (like airports and shopping malls).

Yesterday I rode down the hill with my friend Bud in his 1971 Ford Bronco, towing a trailer full of scrap metal to dump.  On the way back up the hill to Conifer, the Bronco blew out a radiator hose - and in an instant the car was full of smoke and steam.  He managed to pull over safely, and we called a friend to come give us a hand.  We sat there for an hour waiting, and I was disappointed to remark that NOT ONE PERSON stopped to ask if we needed any help - even though we had our hood up and there was radiator fluid all over the ground.  It's not that we needed extra help - I just thought that someone would surely show some neighborly kindness.  I guess Bud was right when he said, "People just don't help each other anymore."  Very sad.

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My brother John continues to keep me updated with tales of miracles and tragedy from the massive storms that swept across Alabama last week, leaving death and destruction in their wake.  I have been personally blessed to watch John's heart of faith and care as he has personally purchased several chain saws and generators to help those in need.  

If your heart is in some way moved to help financially (the need for more chain saws, generators, and other equipment is still enormous) as you read the account below, please let me know.  John has received some gifts designated for emergency equipment, and he uses 100% to buy whatever is needed. 


The man in the pictures is a dear friend and supporter of my brother John and his family.  They narrowly escaped death as the massive tornado passed half a block from their home, but those who's homes were in the "kill zone" of the twister were not so fortunate.  The pictures speak for themselves.

These pictures were taken as Wade described his encounter with the tornado while touring his house.

Wade and his son, Ross on their front steps.

The entire front of the house is covered with splinters, mud, insulation, glass and other debris. And this is all on the EAST side of the house, opposite the side the tornado approached the neighborhood.

The outer wall that disappeared that day. But the winds mind-bogglingly left books neatly stacked on shelves!

Their once-beautiful kitchen. Judy is an architect and a talented artist and decorator, so the whole house was just the way they liked it.

Wade shows me how his bedroom looked, with cowboy hat undisturbed!

You don't want to get in the way of that! Wade points out a shard of glass sliced into an interior wall protected by a solid corner; demonstrates the swirling effect of the winds.

A branch acting as a spear thrown by a giant, completely piercing the outer wall into their living room!

Wade demonstrates with his son how he turned when the window exploded. He crouched over his wife while his back was peppered with debris.

The upper level of the house was actually lifted up allowing debris to blow under it before it set back down. This plastic Easter egg on the left was blown under and remains completely intact.

The house where Wade and others pulled a family and to small children to safety, although the mother did not make it out alive. Most houses that display a flag represent a place where someone died.

Another small flag at another flattened residence (by the white bucket).