Rebuild The Gund Family's Home After Tornado Devastation

May 16th: Our Tornado Story

On May 16th, my family and I survived an EF-4 tornado with 190 mph winds that struck our home. It was just 10 mph less than an EF-5. The event unfolded rapidly, catching us off guard despite the warning. When the tornado warning alerted us, my dad went outside to assess the situation. I followed him and he said, "Hannah, this is bad. There's debris flying high above quickly. We need to go now." Our priority was my mom, who is disabled.

I quickly grabbed her walker and we rushed towards the bathroom for shelter, but we didn't make it that far. We were in the hallway, with my dad in front of my mom and me behind her, when the tornado hit. My ears popped from the pressure change, and we were battered by intense wind, dirt debris, and the sound of trees shattering. Amidst the chaos, I shouted, "Jesus, protect our home!" And just as suddenly, it was over. The entire ordeal lasted about ten minutes.

After the tornado passed, we assessed the damage and prioritized getting my mom to safety. Our home was severely damaged, with broken windows, glass and leaves scattered everywhere, and two trees lodged in our kitchen and laundry room. Outside, the destruction was total – our front porch was gone, trees were snapped like toothpicks, and our driveway was littered with debris and big trees.

My dad worked with my brother and others to clear the trees from our long gravel road. Within three hours, they had made enough progress for a police officer to check on my mom, and firefighters/EMTs arrived with an ATV to transport her to safety. My sister-in-law was able to meet them at the local fire station and take her in.

We're deeply grateful to God for our safety and to our amazing community for their overwhelming support. It's a miracle we were home to protect my mom, and that my brother's family had recently moved back, enabling them to help. We're thankful that most of our personal belongings, clothes, and essentials are intact, although the house requires significant work to restore it.

We have discovered due to a clerical error, we do not have house insurance. We have no additional resources available to rebuild our home and to safely accommodate my mother's disability needs. If you're able to contribute, we'd be incredibly grateful. Our home is a place where everyone feels welcome and is family, and having the funds to repair it would not only help my mom regain a sense of normalcy but also allow our home to truly be a haven for everyone. Thank you, and God bless.