The day the wind destroyed my town.

God showed himself to me twice this weekend. 

For the second week in a row, Tornados roared through Middle Tennessee, majorly through Rutherford County, and destroyed hundreds of homes and taking many lives, including those of Kori Bryant and her 9 week old daughter.  Many of my friends were close to Kori. 

No matter how many times I see it, the damage that Tornados create never ceases to amaze me. They jump from house to house ripping off roofs; uprooting trees without snapping a single branch; some will occasionally lift houses right off their foundations.  I saw it all today.

photo compliments of The Tennessean

No storms came near my house. This morning my father and I went to the Blackman area of Murfreesboro to check on a few friends and see if we could help clear some of the brush.

I was amazed at how many people were out. Not just Red Cross Volunteers delivering food, but honest, unplanned and unorganized volunteers who just drove by to see how they could help. They were clearing trees, repairing roofs, salvaging whatever valuables they could find. 

Here were people, some neighbors and some not, coming out and spending their Saturday selflessly. I was amazed. I had never seen so many people working to help people they had never met before. They brought chainsaws, tools, food, drinks, and the occassional Bobcat. 

I dont know. Maybe it doesnt seem like much. But what I saw today was a community working together to help out their neighbors. I didn’t see FEMA. I didn’t see the President walking around or making speeches. I saw a few cops and firefighters, but most of them were off duty and were repairing homes. I didn’t see the government helping. I saw people. 

Obviously, there is a lot of work to do that we were not able to accomplish today. People will have to have professional repairs made, in many cases build whole new houses. I’m sure that some of the people affected did not have insurance and will have to start over. But if this level of pure, unselfish kindness is always as common in Rutherford County as it was today I think those people are in good hands. 

 

photo compliments of The Tennessean

 

PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN

HOW TO HELP



You can help people affected by this disaster, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. 

On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. 

Gifts enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. 

Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

You can also donate to help the victims of the Murfreesboro tornadoes at any Middle Tennessee Kroger store at the register as you check out. 

Just tell the cashier you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross for the Central Tennessee tornadoes.

The Red Cross is NOT accepting any donations of clothing, furniture or any other material items.

If you would like to volunteer, the CITY OF MURFREESBORO is asking you to call (615) 890-1934.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation’s blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog atwww.redcrosschat.org.

Tags: Murfreesboro, tornado, Volunteers