FEEL GOOD: Tornado Stories

Dear Friends of VIND,

VIND has essentially closed 60 rebuild cases from the Christmas Day 2006/Ground Hog Day 2007 tornadoes. With only a few loose ends left to tie up, the contract for the Governor’s Disaster Recovery Fund tornado grant ended on November 30, 2008. Along with as many 2004 Hurricane cases having been brought to the rebuild committee and wrapping up the My Safe Florida Home mitigation contract by December 30, 2008; VIND has certainly not been lacking for work. Add to this a little Tropical Storm called Fay…..well, our staff is tired and ready for the upcoming holidays. I would be remiss if I did not pause to share with you the last of my “Feel Good Stories” of the year.

Our last two Christmas Day 2006 Tornado cases were near and dear to our hearts. This devastating storm struck Volusia County mid-afternoon on Christmas Day after the gifts had been opened and the holiday dinner was in the oven. It was not a declared disaster until February 22, when it was attached to the Ground Hog Day disaster. In essence, for many low-income families, the devastation was suffered in total despair for two months.

One was a couple, Sandy and Dave, who became VIND clients after the declaration due to VIND’s canvassing efforts in the neighborhood. Sandy is a nurse, but her husband has many medical problems. It was clear they could not rebuild their home without assistance, but the damage to the structure was not repairable. Every time a storm blew, the roof would lift so that the sky was visible, but there was nothing structurally sound to which the roof could be reattached.

Another client came to us through a church plea for assistance. They had been helping a young woman with some donated time from an occupational therapist. She needed a wheelchair. Not only did we find a church to pay for a new, made-to-order wheelchair; we took on the woman and her family as a rebuild client. As the Christmas Day tornado struck, Lola had thrown herself over her 3-year-old daughter. While she protected her baby, the flying debris broke her back resulting in a spinal chord injury. Everything Lola, husband Roy and daughter Joanna owned was blown away or cleaned up with the storm debris as the next 5 months were spent in hospitals and rehab centers. Not only does every parent know in their hearts they would do the same for their child, every human wonders at the courage and risk of doing so. My own brother is a 20 year paraplegic from an accident with exactly the same type of injury, so my heart went out to this family. However, Lola always spoke with a smile in her voice which stole the hearts of all of our staff, volunteers and affiliates.

We had shared with these two families the ebbing and flowing tears of fear, joy, frustration and even anger for nearly two years. Both families were from mobile home parks and the clients did not qualify for the county SHIP manufactured home replacement which had been available to several other clients. Every attempt was made to find another resource, including the donation of FEMA manufactured homes, but as the closing of our own program drew near, it seemed impossible. During a “brain thundering” session (our brain storms are never quiet) between Laurie, VIND’s Case Management Supervisor, and myself; we discussed new manufactured home replacements. I knew she had already been looking with a list of unanswered calls and rejections. “The answer is we have no room in the budget“, I responded, “but I dare you to find a deal. If you do, I’ll find a way to fund it.” Not only did Laurie take my dare, but what unfolded was a storyline only God could script!

Laurie’s next call was to a manufactured home sales lot answered by a woman who was a Katrina survivor. The name of the company was “Love Homes.”

Despite glitches along the way, both manufactured homes were delivered to the sites before Thanksgiving and ready for their final inspections a few weeks later. VIND scheduled back to back Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies: Friday, December 19, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. respectively. Turning the keys over before the two year anniversary of the tragedy was a significant feat!

Upon arrival at the first location, Sandy pulled me aside. “I understand you have another ribbon-cutting today….I’d like to go with you if I may. I kind of know the family.”

Sandy went on to explain that on the day of the tornado, she had been standing barefoot and drenched to the skin in front her damaged home speaking with a police officer and other emergency responders. Her grandson was holding an umbrella over her head. Suddenly a pickup truck flew into the road and stopped, the driver yelling for help. Someone was injured and emergency responders could not get through because of downed power lines. “I’m a nurse. I can go.” So Sandy, still barefoot, was the first on the scene, bending over Lola to keep her calm and still while Sandy’s grandson held the umbrella over them both. Roy was standing in shock holding Joanna in his arms, blood trickling down the baby’s face from her ear. Still in shock herself, Sandy was imprinted by the scene: the mobile home site was empty of anything recognizable from the debris except for two wrapped gifts and a toilet seat.

I was in tears. “Sandy, we have known you for almost two years. Why have you never shared this before?”

“I didn’t want to brag.”

Two hours later, Sandy had a reunion. Roy recognized her, and Lola shed tears of gratitude as Sandy and David were introduced.

Two years, two families, two new homes and one big miracle---I told you God wrote the script!

All of the donations of volunteer time, funds, tools, sharing of ideas and resources and your mission spirited hearts has meant that VIND has been able to continue generating “feel-good stories” with happy endings.

Happy Holidays! (Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, and New Year 2009, too!)
Mary-Ann Luther