6.18.2010

DEVASTATION!!

This is only one picture of just part of the devastation, that hit our area, yesterday June 17, 2010. It started around 6:30 pm, on Thursday evening. I was trying to put more photos on here, but my internet is in and out...and is damaged. The tornado that leveled this building site, was hovering over our house and went straight north (about a mile away) and hit my son's friends house. This is not his house, but another in the area. His friend's house is a total loss.

My husband was out with the County Sheriff, Fire Dept./First Responders and Storm spotters and watched the tornado hovering around/over our house and watched it hit the other houses. The damage that this tornado caused is UNBELIEVABLE. It makes you want to cry. So many have lost their homes/business and there was at least one death (I have heard 3, but only one has been released at this time, so I am not sure). There were quite a few hurt as well.

**Here is the video I was talking about from the Fire Dept. - that is our house in the distance, in the video and then the tornado moves north. When it turns black and dark at the "cone-shaped" base, that is when it took out Jordan's friends' house ;(

I wanted to include links to video footage of the tornado, but can not really browse with my internet the way it is, I tried. We watched the news and seen footage of the tornado with our house in it...we were VERY LUCKY. I will try to add a video or links, when our internet is fixed. You can google it or look for videos on youtube. They are there. Google Hollandale, MN Tornado June 17, 2001. You will not believe how massive that tornado was. This evening we went to look at the damage, it is so very heart-wrenching. I do not even have the words to describe it. They have set up a shelter with the Red Cross, the military were here, electric crews working around the clock - so many are still without power and the list goes on and on.

I am so Thankful, but feel so very bad for the families that have been affected by this Tornado and storm. There are farms hit where everything was leveled. A year to the day, another Tornado ripped through this area (and surrounding) as well. I just thought I would share what has been going on around here. My heart is heavy today...

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry Tonya...you all have been in my thoughts and prayers....It's unbelieveable what Mother Nature can do....Patti

Outofmymind said...

My heart and prayers go out to you all, and hope things can settle down soon. My mom lives in Missouri and I'm always worrying about her during tornado season. God bless you. Kelli

Deb @ Crows on the Cupola said...

My hubby and I were on our way home from Alexandria. We found out none too soon that we were about 15minutes behind the tornado that touched down in Wadena. When we got to Wadena could not believe our eyes, the destruction was overwhelming to witness. Our hearts goes out to all those folks who were affected by these aweful storms and tornados.

Monkey-Cats Studio said...

Oh Tonya, I heard on the news so stopped by to see if you had posted anything. I'm so happy you and your family are safe. I am very sad for those that have lost loved ones and for those that have suffered the loss of homes and property. Tornadoes are very unforgiving storms and I just hate to see anyone suffer because of them. Keep us updated when you can and give the family all extra hugs tonight!
Thinking of you!
Laurie

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

wow I had no idea you lived in "tornado alley"..I am glad that you and your family is safe..I am sorry to hear about your sons friends house..You will be in my prayers.:)

Meadowbrook Cabin Primitives said...

Tonya,

Thank the Lord that you and your family are alright !

It is very heartwrenching watching and seeing things like that and then hearing about loss of life and people hurt.

God Bless and Hugs,
Linda

Pat said...

It is frightening how much severe and disastrous weather seems to be hitting areas in recent months. I feel so bad for people who have been affected by this. Tornadoes are especially bad since they move erratically and often there isn't much notice. I hope the death toll doesn't climb.

Loafer Mountain Primitives said...

Oh Tonya, How lucky are you? I watched that clip. You truly are blessed! It skipped right over you! My prayers are with everyone around you.
We are traveling through Arkansas right now and we've kept a close watch on the weather so we can stay out of the storms paths!
Blessings,
Tisha

~Tonya said...

Thank you so much for each of you stopping by and for your kind words and thoughts. I have tried to visit blogs and so forth, but my internet is going in and out...

I will try to visit your blogs, when my internet is back up and running smoothly.

Have a nice weekend and Thank you again.

~Tonya

My Little Raggedy Blessings said...

Tonya ,I am so glad you posted hon.I came home yesterday morning from some shopping and hubby was telling me about all the tornadoes that hit around there .He said there was something like 62 of them that hit three states .And when he said MN was one of them my heart sank and my first thought was oh my gosh I hope Tonya and her family are ok .So glad to hear that you are .Watching the footage on the news is so sad ,such damage and lose. A women was on there last night who lost her father who covered and protected her during the storm .Watching it seeing her pain made your heart ache for her and all those that it effected . Stay safe hon so glad you and your family are ok .



Big Hugs
Renae

jenclair said...

Wow--that is amazing footage. We went through a (very small in comparison)tornado in Oct., and things are still not all back to normal. Two houses on our street were complete losses. My heart goes out to all who are affected.

Anonymous said...

Tonya,
So sorry to hear about the tornado that hit your area. Glad that your family is safe. There was a tornado that touched down here in Ohio, but it was up north from us. Keeping you and others there in my thoughts and prayers.
~Cindy~

PEA said...

Tonya,
You were on my mind yesterday and I know why now. Thank GOD you are alright. Scary. That was your house on the left of the tornado? OMG you were very lucky.
I am sorry to hear of Jordon's friends house. Will keep you all in prayers.
Pea

Jenny Carter said...

Oh that is terrible. Watching that was frightening and it just got uglier as it went. I pray that everyone recovers from this soon. I have nightmares about tornado's. This is scary.

Confounded Concoctions said...

Tonya,

That video was amazing. I am so glad that you are alright. Were you guys in a shelter when it hit? To think that it just skipped over your place is a mind blower. I am so sorry to hear about Jordan's friend!

Annette-Confounded Concoctions

West Side of Straight said...

Glad you are fine, but praying for all the folks that lost so much. We are 40 miles from Wadena, and there were several tornados here in the area south of us. We just got the storms. These bad storms sure do a lot of damage. Hope the rest of the summer doesn't include more tornados.

Rock River Stitches said...

Tonya, That video was unbelievable! So glad to your house was ok and terrible about Jordan's friends house. Can't even imagine having something like happen to me.

Tammy

Tracy said...

Wow that is scary. I have never seen a tornado before. Living where I do we have never had one.
Take care

Dana said...

Oh my goodness, Tonya... I don't know what to say... the video was really scary!!! That white funnel that skipped up and over the house in the distance was YOUR house? Did you know all of that was going on above you?! I would have been so frightened... the forces of Nature can be so furious!!!

I've not been out visiting in a while. Summer has been really insane. I'm sorry I've not kept in touch better. I'm glad you're all safe and well and very sorry for the losses in your community. :( It was June 19 last year that we had a tornado rip through (north of us) and when our town had horrible flash-flooding that washed away several roads and left many stranded with water in their basements and without power for days. :(

Be safe!!!

Dana
xo