We've been getting calls from family members around the country--the national news makes it look like half of Iowa was blown away. (I'll have to remember that perspective when watching news stories about other areas.) Three towns were hit, and they were small towns. So small that they have to share a high school. Still, 220 houses were flattened, and 400 were damaged. Kevin went out yesterday with a small group of ward members to help at the Godfrey's home. He took these pictures.
The Godfrey's two vehicles, where WERE inside an attached garage. Notice the guitar underneath the car's tire. Those vehicles were airborne. The interiors of the cars were packed in with old cornstalks, and other debris. (Last night, Bro. Godfrey joked that he couldn't tell the difference from how they normally looked.)
At least the hardwood floor survived! If it can be salvaged...
The family escaped with just the clothes on their backs and no shoes. So the men's first job was to find clothing and important papers. Like their wallets. And they found them! And their wedding rings. And shoes filled with the insulation, just packed firmly into the toes. Fortunately, the insulation was the cellulose type, not the fiberglass type. The men loaded up eight large bags of clothing and most has now been washed up and returned to the Godfrey's at their hotel room.
All this took the tornado 30 seconds to accomplish. The family said that once they were in their safe room, their eardrums and sinuses began to hurt immensely! Then everything rumbled and dust and insulation started to come down on them. They huddled in a corner with a blanket over them. It took a few minutes to realize it was over, as things were still settling and shifting. As they opened the door, they just couldn't believe what they were seeing.
There have been many miracles--like a clear, sunny day to salvage things when it was forecast to be a rainy day. Like finding a kitchen cabinet with glass doors, on the back lawn, and none of the glass was broken (nor were the glass dishes inside). Like someone coming by with a page from a scrapbook--found in their yard--and looking for its owner. Like finding most of the personal journals, in decent shape. Like surviving in the first place.
Seven people did not.
We had a barbecue last with the family and others who had been out working. It is amazing how they could joke and smile about all this.
Like the "For Sale" sign in the front yard still in perfect condition.
Like counting it as "missionary work" because all their FHE packets about the gospel were gone and likely scattered all over northeast Iowa.
Like having worked all day Saturday cleaning their home for a showing--it looked better than it had looked since they had moved in--all for a tornado to wipe it out.
Like homes just across the street losing a few shingles or some siding, while their side of the street was just a string of debris.
I was grateful to see such a positive response. But I think they are planning on moving back to Utah.
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