On Friday, Colts staff, players and cheerleaders took a bus to Henryville, IN to help the town clean up after an F4 tornado devastated the place they call home. No previous viewing of photos, television reports or YouTube footage could have prepared me for what was in store this day.
And to think that we arrived exactly a week after this tornado hit. Recovery is a
long process.
We left the complex at 7:00 a.m. and took 65 South for almost 2 hours, until we arrived at the Henryville exit. Just miles before this exit you couldn't tell a tornado of such high magnitude had passed through the area, but as we approached the exit ramp the speechlessness set in.
Cars were piled on top of one another, thrown about like feathers. Trees were stripped of their limbs, left naked, and snapped in half appearing as if it were twigs. In fact, it almost looked like a forest fire had swept through and cleared out the area.
Honestly,
I felt like I was on the set of "Twister." We drove through downtown Henryville and went directly to our location for the day. This recently established auto shop was a childhood dream, that in just minutes was torn to shreds by the F4 tornado. Next door was the diner whose front got smashed in by a school bus. And across the street was the high school--a solid, steel building mangled and thrown for miles, like it was nothing more than fabric.
You can see the location by watching this videoWhile working across the street from the school we picked up segments of the school's track, we moved steel from the roof, and stood in awe of the "I" beams that were folded and bent and lying in the yard. An atypical scene, to say the least. And it continues to be one that puts shivers down my spine. How can wind lift up, move, and mutilate a steel object as solid as an "I" beam?
During our time at the Auto Shop we also witnessed at least a dozen cars that were totaled. Either the glass was blown out, or the softball size hail left nice imprints on the vehicles.
I will never forget the box of lightbulbs that were found under all the rubble-untouched.
Tornadoes are quite mysterious.
Following are some of the photos I took on my iPhone while in Henryville.
The Auto Shop's sign, found under siding, and the school's track.
The Auto Shop, or what is left. Basically, we only saw titled walls that surrounded the bathroom.
And the surrounding land:
This tornado even lifted a fire hydrant from the ground, and moved it 20+ feet from the road.
I must thank God for giving me the opportunity to spend this day in service. Without it, I would not be able to share the story of Henryville with you. Please continue to pray for the individuals who found themselves in the path of this storm. And for all of those, whose lives are forever changed because of a natural disaster.
