"The small farming community of Pilger in northeast Nebraska was devastated Monday by a rare occurrence of dual tornadoes about a mile apart, destroying half the town and killing two people."
"Two people were killed in the violent storms. Five-year-old Calista Dixon died after her family's mobile home on Main Street in Pilger was struck by a tornado. Her mother is still in critical condition at Creighton University Medical Center, but her 4-year-old sister escaped with only minor injuries.
"David Herout, 74, of Clarkson died after being ejected from his vehicle after the twisters moved the car off the road, Cuming County officials said.
"The Associated Press reports at least 19 others were hospitalized. Many of those patients were released on Tuesday but a few – including Calista Dixon's mother, Kandi Murphree – remained hospitalized.
"The storm left "total devastation" in Pilger, a village of about 380 people. Gov. Dave Heineman declared a state of emergency, allowing the National Guard to be deployed into the area, according to KMTV."
Leon Zook, Caleb Chupp, Benjamin Gavin, Joshua Grice, Shawn Zook, and myself (Abigail Grice) all went to Pilger, NE to help with clean up. We were all helping through CAM. If that makes sense. :) We left at 5:00 a.m. from Church and came home around 9:00 p.m.. It was a long, but very enjoyable day.
This photo taken on June 16, 2014 from atop the Wisner, Neb., grain elevator and made available on Tuesday, June 17, 2014, shows a tornado approaching Pilger, Neb. A storm packing rare dual tornadoes tore through northeast Nebraska, crumpling grain bins and flattening dozens of homes. (AP Photo/Mitch Schweers)
A woman walks down Black Hills Trail road in Pilger, Neb., Monday, June 16, 2014. At least one person is dead and at least 16 more are in critical condition after two massive tornadoes swept through northeast Nebraska on Monday. (AP Photo/Mark ‘Storm’ Farnik)
A police officer exits the Wisner-Pilger Middle School after checking for people stuck inside Monday, June 16, 2014, in Pilger Neb. The National Weather Service said at least two twisters touched down within roughly a mile of each other. (AP Photo/The World-Herald, Ryan Soderlin)
Gavin Johnston, whose home was damaged by a tornado, walks past another damaged home Monday, June 16, 2014, in Pilger, Neb. The National Weather Service said at least two twisters touched down within roughly a mile of each other. (AP Photo/The Journal-Star, Stacie Scott)
Structures in Pilger, Neb. are heavily damaged after tornadoes moved through the area on Monday, June 16, 2014. A storm packing rare dual tornadoes tore through a tiny farming town in northeast Nebraska, killing a 5-year-old girl, leaving grain bins crumpled like discarded soda cans and flattening dozens of homes. (AP Photo/The Norfolk Daily News, Darin Epperly)
Severely damaged homes and buildings are seen after a tornado on Monday, June 16, 2014, in Pilger, Neb. The National Weather Service said at least two twisters touched down within roughly a mile of each other. (AP Photo/The Journal-Star, Stacie Scott)
This is the first house that we worked on.
The foundation for the house is on the right of the pine tree and a little back, I believe.
Thankfully the couple (unfortunately, I can't remember their names... my poor brain!) were away when the tornado struck. This is what they came home to.
We helped the wife move as many valuables as possible out of their house and stack it on the sidewalk.
The upstairs was imposible to get to, without endangering yourself.
I was shocked to find out, after tramping in and out of the house, that it was off it's foundation. Sometimes I can be pretty thick... BUT then Leon also did not realize it till later too. That makes me feel a little better. :) :)
The boys helped her husband to clean up around the foundation and get things that were of value out.
Leon really liked this... He liked it so much that he preached a message called "Lessons from a Port-a-John." :) It said, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
As you can see, there was no repairing this house. So down it came. It was a little sad to think of all the memories that were probably made in that house and now it is being ruthlessly torn apart.
They were going to be remodeling it soon... I am so glad they didn't!
OOOPPPS! Leon caught me standing around... dear, dear! :)
This one is totaled. What kind of car is it? :) I like the mini excavator on the car. It looked really funny with all these HUGE excavators running around it.
Can you see the ladder?
Can you see the screwdriver?
These grain bins were picked up, thrown all over the town and in the field. I am not sure if they can save the grain.
You can't 'just' bend or crumple something like this...
Walking somewhere... :)
This is the second couple we helped. We helped another CAM team clean up their yard. By the time we got to it there was just some chain link fence and some junk in the yard to pick up. We also raked the yard.
This is the house that is pictured in photo #4 toward the top of this post.
While we were at lunch some other people came and stared working on the yard also.
Glad that didn't hit anyone...
Someone wondered if this thing sprayed water all over when it got detached. Any ideas?
These people and the Red Cross were WONDERFUL! They came around with all kinds of stuff. COLD water, COLD gatorade, doughnuts, apples, and more.
The last house we worked on. We were supposed to rake and clean up the yard.
Easier said than done. :)
ANY shade was a blessing. Even power poles. Because the storm had stripped a lot of the trees' leaves and branches off there was hardly any shade. It was around 94 degrees that day, I think.
We finally finished around four o'clock p.m., had supper then headed home. It was about nine when we arrived home I think. All the times I mention are estimated, so if you do know the actual times please feel free to leave a comment. :)
Photo and information credit;
For the top seven photos:
For the rest of the photos:
Leon Zook
No comments:
Post a Comment