Rete

As most of the regular posters here know, my oldest daughter and her family are located in Hattiesburg, as is my husband. They were part of the tornado that touched down in West Hattiesburg on Sunday.

Hattiesburg's tornado on Sunday was classified as an F-3 (at times an F-4). It was approximately 3/4 of a mile wide and some reports said it travelled 75 miles. It did millions of dollars of damage in the City of Hattiesburg proper, to private homes, businesses and the University of Southern Miss. My daughter's home was one of those that was hit by this tornado.

While structurally it is still standing it not habitable. The roof has been ripped off in one section and there are holes in the roof over the children's bedrooms where the debris punched through and where the roof apparently lifted and misaligned itself. The playroom and the two childrens' room are beyond repair. They are moved out and are living temporarily with the in-laws a little ways north until they can find housing back in Hattiesburg for their family of 5.

Thankfully, Jim, the kids and Joe, as well as your neighbors all had guardian angels watching over them as they all are safe and uninjured. Property can be replaced and repaired. Prayers of gratitude to those guardian angels of the Nause and Gulan family who watched over the Petrie/Nause family. Those stories are very interesting.

Jim lives in an apartment complex and while he lost electricity, of course, and had windows blown out in his apartment and all them in his truck, he was the least affected by the tornado. His address is Hardy Street and when you watch the video, it goes behind his complete and that corner of the complex and the private homes on those streets were leveled. Yes, he was very fortunate.

Englishtart

Happy to hear your family are ok hunni....We have been close to tornadoes in the past, but never actually felt too much of an effect from them, I cannot imagine how worried you must have been! Lets hope all those in the path that lost homes vehicles etc will get the help they need quickly and efficiently.

Nutmegger

So sorry to hear that your family were so badly affected by this, Rete, but so glad that they are all safe and well. I saw the images on TV and that was one scary looking funnel. I do hope that your daughter is able to find suitable accommodation soon -- will it be feasible to rebuild her home on the same site, or does that remain to be seen?

Rete

Thanks, NM Yes, they can build on the same site. There are options if the building is condemned by the city and insurance company and has to be torn down. They can rebuild and add some money to that and add another bedroom which I were hoping to do this year with a new addition. It is a good street, nice neighbors and kids. Not much traffic and city sewer and water.

Difficult part is time and money.

scrubbedexpat097

Wow Rete, that must have been a scary time for your family and for you.

Glad they are all safe and hopefully they get plenty of help with the clean up and the re-build

Hugs to you my dear..

Jerseygirl

Rete I had no idea your family where caught up in this. In fact I hadn't heard anything about it...as the news here is covering the recent snow storm in the NE. I am pleased to hear they are all safe and well...that's the main thing.

Puts the inconvenience of a foot or so of snow into perspective.

About 11 years ago we were caught up in a tornado that hit the enormous car park at the Giants Stadium complex. Not a pleasant experience.

Weeze

I was scared enough being stuck in a grocery store when one touched down nearby, can't imagine what your family went through.
So glad they are all okay.

Nutmegger

Indeed -- I hope they get a speedy resolution from the insurance company and can try to transition to the excitement of planning their new home from the sadness of losing the one they were happy in.

Rete

Thanks all for the kind words. There are three interesting stories that came out after the tornado passed:

My daughter was going to stay home with her daughter, Kelly and her hubby was going to take the boys to the coast for madri gras. At the last minute she decided to go with them. Thank you ... intutition.

Her neighbor to the right was home alone with her 3 kids when the siren sounded. She grabbed them and went into the tub with them. When the tornado passed, the entire roof of her house was gone with the exception of the roof over the bathroom they were in.

Her neighbor on the left has windows in every room. At the sound of the siren she grabbed her daughter and a twin mattress and went into her hallway and she and the daughter went under the mattress. The roof was gone and the outer walls and all that remained were the walls that made up the hallway.

Leslie

Glad everybody is okay, Rita.

Pollyana

Terrifying experiences, and so traumatic losing their home, but thank goodness your family and the neighbours are all OK. did they manage to salvage much or aren't they allowed on site yet?

Rete

No one stopped them and they were able to take out some furniture and clothing. The living room and the master bedroom were not touched so that furniture was taken out. No bedroom furniture left for the kids or toys or tv in the playroom. Insurance should take care of that as well.

Pollyana

Thank heavens for insurance at least, you hear of so many people left with nothing and no means to start again. Hopefully they can start to put their ;ives back togetehr soon - and as you say, what a good stroke of fate that meant none of them were home.

BEVS

Oh my goodness Rete ! What a horrible, terrifying thing to happen.

Thank the heavens all your family are safe lovely lady.

Big hugs from me to you. Must have been so hard being far away .

Bob

Wow....scary stuff!

Glad everyone is okay, but sorry to hear of all the damage and stress of it all