I was very lucky! At the time I had no idea that the tornado split up into several tornados. When I was in the basement I knew that it was close when suddenly the sky was dark greenish, the wind stopped and the stormy atmosphere turned turn still and eerie. In about thirty seconds the noise that sounded like freight train shook the house. I could hear debris and hail bouncing off the house. Until this morning I had no clue that a tornado had passed just south of my back of my property.
As we were in the basement lodged in the old cistern pit, my cars entered my mind for a split second, I found myself praying to god thinking I could care less about cars and material things I was just praying for safety and to come out alive.
I work as a police officer for the Village Kirkland Police which is adjacent to the town of Fairdale. Fairdale is a small community. The F4 tornado basically leveled the whole Town. Only a few buildings are still standing but none have escaped serious damage. two elderly ladies were killed and seven were seriously injured. Many others sustained nonlife threatening injuries and they were treated and released.
Yesterday I was called into work to assist. Seeing the fury of mother nature's aftermath in person, makes us mere humans bow to the fury of mother nature. This really leaves me with an ever lasting impression. This re enforces the respect we much have for mother natures rage. While I worked assigned to the Fire Department which is the distribution and feeding area for all involved victims or personnel I saw the sadness and the desperateness of the less fortunate victims. My prayers and thoughts go out to all affected by this disaster.
In all this negativity I was fortunate to wittiness a ray of sunshine. I am impressed and touched by the social out cry and all that are assisting. Whether it be people, companies that donated food, dry goods, clothes, pet food/supplies, drugs and anything one could think of. The random citizens that are assisting with manual labor or equipment is impressive. The EMS, Fire department, police department or non for profit / government help agency personnel that are sleeplessly helping any way possible makes me proud.
Sometimes a bad thing can help us to see how much good still exist in this world.
