Iowa Family Hit By Second Tornado In 9 Years
Pastor Dale Morgan
Iowa Family Hit By Second Tornado In 9 Years*
Hays Clean Up Debris
POSTED: 5:52 pm CDT October 1, 2007
UPDATED: 7:21 pm CDT October 1, 2007
DES MOINES, Iowa -- A Lynnville family is forced to pick up the pieces
after their home is hit by a tornado for second time in nine years.
Tornadoes touched down Sunday in both Poweshiek and Jasper counties.
High winds blew apart business and farm buildings.
They also damaged several homes, including one that's now been hit by a
tornado twice in the last decade. Mark Hay saw his neighbor's farm get
hit by a twister.
"I got down in the storm cellar and hear the lumber go 'brrrr,' and
within about 15 seconds, it was all over with," he said.
The garage was destroyed, the roof blew off and the insulation was
draped in trees.
"Here's where the tornado came right through here, hit the garage, went
right across the field, missed my aunt Mildred over there, which I was
very thankful," he said.
His family was safe, but his belongings are gone.
"Anything I had in the garage is gone. It's completely gone. It's strung
out for about a mile clear across my whole field," he said.
Hay said the damage will probably take nine to 12 months to clean up. He
knows because that's how long it took him last time.
"Last time, it came from Des Moines. Grimes got hit. It came right
across here and just, same spot again. It must be tornado alley all I
can figure out," he said.
Some people live their whole lives without having to experience severe
weather such as tornadoes.
"I guess since it happened to us once. I'm always wondering," said
Kendra Hay.
"I'm blessed. It's twice now and we both walked away from it, no
scratches, not a lick, just a lot of sad memories of all your pictures
are gone," Hay said.
The debris stretches for more than 15 miles. At least five farms got hit
and so did a business.
Hay said the farmer he bought his property from lived there for 40 years
and never had a tornado come through here. "I get here and I got
whacked," he said.
Several people came out to help storm victims by either boarding up
windows, building a temporary roof or hauling away debris.
The Hays said they think they'll be able to live in the basement while
their home gets fixed and they're just hoping twice is enough.