Sunset Hills Tornado Victims: Their Stories

SUNSET HILLS-- In working with tornado survivors during the several weeks after the New Year's Eve tornado struck, what I learned foremost is the value of family and the true meaning of home.

The afternoon and evening of the event had a very powerful impact on all of us but especially on the neighbors, family members and friends gathered at the Sunset Hills Community Center. They were happy to have survived with their families intact. The survivors were so brave and positive. They were thankful, kind and gracious.

Yet who could imagine what they had just seen or the fear they had just faced? I have never seen such courage in my lifetime. 

Also, I don't believe I've ever cried so much in such a short period of time. Hearing stories of holding on through the wind and mud, hiding under a countertop and desperately calling to find family members and check on neighbors, in the aftermath.

There are the stories of losing so many personal things that cannot be replaced by the kindness of neighbors or any amount of money. These families lost photos of loved ones past, yearbooks with mementos of high school, videos of bringing home their newborns. How do you deal with that?

We know coverage of the event and recovery became a very interesting and heartwarming story for people in the region, if not the nation. But our neighbors had to go on with life after the TV cameras and spectators were gone. They had to get back to work and school, find clothes to wear, go to the grocery store and face a new day. 

But there were many heroes ready to step up and help their neighbors from both near and far.

One that comes to mind is the group of grade-school children who immediately went to work collecting change and delivered over $2,000 the first week! 

Others are the two little girls who insisted on giving their prized new Christmas gifts to children who lost all their presents in the storm. Wearing huge smiles on their faces, the girls cheerfully brought us bags of toys. 

Many others put on their warmest undergarments and three layers of clothing to work with chainsaws, fill boxes with debris and sweep the streets clean, all in the freezing cold weather.

In the midst of all this goodness were many hugs and sincere, compelling kindness that is seldom seen among acquaintances and strangers. Contrary to what we are often led to believe, there are angels all around us. What a wonderful community we live in!

Walking around the day after, I saw  Christmas trees and decorations in the rubble that reminded me that none of the survivors' Christmases would ever be the same. 

The kids leaving for college will never again come home to the same home. Some lost the homes they grew up in, the home of their parents, the homes with the same neighbors who watched their children grow up. How can you replace these things?  

I pray everyone remembers long after--far into the future--that our neighbors need us. They are rebuilding their lives and starting over with nearly nothing. Yet, they go on smiling and laughing with courage and hope.

They are truly an amazing group of individuals and I am blessed to have known them. I keep thinking of my favorite Broadway song:

“Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
Because I knew you,
I have been changed for good.”

Editors note: The lyrics are from the 2003 musical Wicked by composer Stephen Schwartz.