Compiled by M. Scott Morris
Daily Journal
The Daily Journal asked readers to share their stories about what happened on April 28, 2014, and over the days that followed.
Some of the accounts have been edited for space and style.
WHAT’S IMPORTANT
HALLMARK
“From friends helping with clean up to those letting us stay in their extra home, we have been so blessed. If I had to pick the biggest blessings, it would be restored relationships.
“Not only was Thanksgiving the first in our new home, but the first with my dad’s family in over 15 years. I have family back in church. We have a newfound understanding of what is important: God and family.” – Kathy Hallmark, Auburn community
A NEW VOLUNTEER
PICKETT
“As a part of the Community Recovery Team, I met lots of wonderful people and was inspired to become a volunteer with our local chapter of the American Red Cross.
“Also, being a compassionate, safe presence for people in the disaster recovery center helped me to more fully realize my path as an interfaith clergy member, working well with people who are grieving losses.
“I’ve grieved more than my fair share in 26 years of life, but it has allowed a depth of experience in my life which allows me to take someone’s hand, look them in the eye, and say, ‘I’ve been there. I will walk with you.’” – Zola Pickett, Tupelo
THE DAY AFTER
“I grabbed our 12-month-old from his crib and sprinted to the hall closet. As I ran, all I saw through the front door was total grayness. I braced myself over all three children through the roar.
“Driving back to Joyner from my parents’ in Ripley the next day was when it all hit me. The devastation. I pulled over on McCullough for a few minutes in complete shock.
“It took me two weeks to stomach driving down Gloster. I am thankful every day that the tornado only damaged the replaceable at our house that day.” – Lauren Babb, Tupelo
TRAPPED
“When the tornado hit our home at 1504 Clayton Ave., Tupelo, granddaughter Brooke, Charles and I were home. Brooke took shelter in the bathtub with quilts and dog. Charles was in front of me in the hallway.
MILAM
“Shingles, sheetrock, glass, etc. pelted my back. The house exploded and the furnace fell across the hallway, knocking me to the floor, trapping my foot and leg.
“Charles was hit on the head and shoulders by two-by-fours. Brooke was okay.
“Called 911, and heard a young man on the street calling out looking for survivors. He took care of Brooke, tried to calm us, and sat in the floor helping keep my face out of water and debris. More rescuers came. They helped us out and to an ambulance.” – Martha Milam, Saltillo (formerly Tupelo)
‘DOWN THE HILL’
“My tornado story is not my story, but that of my 90-year-old mother, Jerolene Westmoreland…
JEROLENE WESTMORELAND
“My sister and I were very concerned about Mother staying the night (after the storm).
“I called 911 to see if there was any help available. Very competent people assured me they would give Mother’s name and address to the fire department who were attempting to get people out of their homes.
“Sometime later that night, firemen braved the downed lines and trees to bring Mother down the hill. But, she wouldn’t leave! She insisted she would be fine there with my brother. And so, she stayed the night.” – Nancy Westmoreland Golding, Belden (writing about her mother, Jerolene Westmoreland, Tupelo)
‘BARELY ANY TREES’
“When the tornado hit, I was at Ms. Kathryn’s basement. There were eight kids, six adults and one dog trying to squeeze into one bathroom.
SWANSON
“I saw signs that the tornado was hitting, like the lights going on and off until it was a complete blackout. No electricity.
“When the tornado passed over, there were barely any trees. Ms. Kathryn’s car was badly damaged. My friend Jackson’s house was damaged. The blue house (which I claim is haunted) was torn down.
“We lost all of our electricity, so we had to stay at our grandparents’ house for a week.
“One more thing, after the tornado, we built a sunroom.
“I am glad I was safe, but most of all, I am glad my family is safe.” – Daniel “D.J.” Swanson, Tupelo
‘LIGHT POLES FLYING’
“I was trying to get to our church basement at Parkway Baptist Church and ended up two blocks from it due to flying debris.
EDWARDS
“I witnessed the awesome power of nature in a driveway of a student who I had taught some 10-15 years earlier. The air was green as I saw trees, garbage cans and light poles flying through the air. Only God could have kept me calm, because I was that.
“The car next to me was demolished. Neither I or my car were touched. Half of the houses were destroyed, and as we made our way down Kincannon, I was still a mile from home on James Drive.
“Yes, we needed a new roof, and lost four of our big trees. It made me realize how thankful I should always be.” – Pat Edwards, Tupelo
THE WEATHERMAN
DORSEY
“So many people said that they did not hear any type of warning sirens that day. Yet, out of all of the destruction, there was only one death. I truly believe that Matt (Laubhan’s) warnings contributed greatly to this almost unbelievable statistic.
“We know that God is ultimately in control, but our weatherman went above and beyond the call of duty to insure that residents of Tupelo were well informed, prepared and stayed safe during this storm.
“He says that he was only doing his job. But this man was on it, and he wouldn’t let us ignore it. Thanks, Matt Laubhan, for being a lifesaver!” – Patricia Dorsey, Tupelo
ANNIVERSARY TO REMEMBER
“April 28, 2014, was a very special day for my husband and me. We were married on that day 63 years ago.
“We spent the afternoon in the storm shelter with nine people we dearly love and five dogs.
“I may have ten more anniversaries, but this will be one we will always remember.” – George and Glenda Self, Guntown
‘PRETTY MUCH GONE’
“We didn’t know that the tornado even went through. We were heading home and came to the curve at Auburn and came to our road.
Rhannon, left, Landon and Jacoby Whaley writers children)
“There were light poles down, trees everywhere. It was the most horrible thing I’ve ever experienced. Our house was pretty much gone. Clothes in the yard, whole roof gone, glass everywhere.
“It took until the next day before we could get to the house. The hardest part was starting over with nothing. Nowhere to go, nowhere to call home. But the only thing my husband could say was, ‘We are alive. That’s all that matters.’ He was thrown out of the house and had to go to the ER.
“We found out what people do when there is a family in need. Auburn Baptist Church helped our family so much. God sent them to us. We thank them so much. Words would never explain how we feel.” – Selena Whaley, Auburn community
SCHOOL INTERRUPTED
FRAZIER
“On the day of the tornado, I went to school and we did math, lunch, and snacktime. Daddy picked me up and he knew a tornado was coming. He got me into my bathroom with my pillow and the tornado came. Daddy was on the phone and I was on the Kindle.
“The tornado knocked our big tree down and I saw it out the window. The neighborhood was gray and it was raining. I was brave.
“We had to tell people driving around that trees were in the road and that they had to go another way. We got to eat at St. Luke with our neighbors. We got to plant new flowers and plants where the tree used to be.” – Josephine Frazier, Tupelo
MISSING DOGS
“I was trying to find our dogs and at the same time my phone was cutting in and out on my boyfriend. I was telling him what I was seeing and he kept saying, ‘Can you open the front door?’
“I said, ‘No, because there is a huge tree in our living room!’
“…Our neighbor walked over and asked if I had dogs. I said, ‘Yes!’ I called them, and one of them ran up and jumped on me and the other one was in the front yard.
“I ran around to get him. He and my little dog immediately saw a squirrel and they ran after it, killed it and the lab brought it to me and laid it by my feet. My neighbor said, ‘I’ll take care of this for you.’” – Susan Davis, Tupelo
AN INSPIRATION
“As a meteorologist with the federal government in Washington, D.C., I had warned my family in Tupelo of the potential for tornadoes on April 28…
HAYNES
“After calling my mom, Jimmie Haynes, and telling her to take cover, I tuned to WTVA’s live online coverage to hear Matt Laubhan announce that the tornado was sighted on West Jackson Street approaching my mom’s Bristow Acres neighborhood. The connection was then lost.
“The following minutes were some of the longest of my life before I reached her via cellphone.
“Her strength and determination in the face of any odds will always be a source of inspiration. Additionally, I will never cease to be in awe of the courage and community spirit of my brother, Capt. Rusty Haynes of the Tupelo Police Department, in risking his life in the aftermath as a first responder.” – John Haynes, Alexandria, Virginia