Six months after tornado, lives are forever changed

by Sarah Rice (srice@wsbt.com)

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Near the Elkhart County-Kosciusko County line, many people lost their homes in the October 18, 2007 tornado. (WSBT file photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Apr 18, 2008 at 5:47 PM EST

Story Updated: Apr 19, 2008 at 10:55 PM EST

Six months ago Friday, a tornado touched down near Nappanee, devastating a three-county area. It damaged and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses.

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Near the Elkhart County-Kosciusko County line, it looks very different today. An area once strewn with debris and power lines is now a row of rebuilt homes and buildings.

Life may be just about back to normal for most people, but some say the tornado changed them forever.

They are stories of survival.

"My great grandfather and his friend and their two dogs were in the bathtub and this thing just came and torn the roof off and everything,” said Chelsey Whitlow the morning after the tornado struck in October 2007.

Experiences people will never forget.

"It was just the loudest wind I've ever heard along with trees cracking and structures breaking,” said Bill Anglin in October.

Aerial views showed the miles of devastation. The tornado damaged and destroyed hundreds of businesses and homes.

"This was like our little bit of a dining room, living room, this was all open,” LaWanda Borkholder said in October, showing WSBT what was left of her home.

Rebuilding efforts started immediately. After six months of hard work, the Borkholders’ home is brand new, but not the same.

"I miss … I always had trees and had the birds out here,” Borkholder said. “I guess I won't see my chipmunk."

There is still a lot of work to be done. But the city says 80 percent of the homes and businesses destroyed have been rebuilt. Some say the progress isn't just amazing, it's overwhelming.

Especially for people like Linda Yoder, who led the relief efforts start to finish.

"Taking people along the streets of Nappanee and talking about the experience, you ….” Yoder began to explain, before getting choked up.

The destruction may have changed Nappanee forever, but the spirit was left untouched.

"That strength of character has been there for a long time; it's just that it was tested,” Yoder said. “And the folks of this community came through with flying colors."

The miracle in all this is no one was badly hurt. Days after the tornado, the community came together to help raise money for the victims — a total of $670,000 was raised.

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