Tornadoes are nothing new to us. Growing up in Nebraska, unfortunately, it is a reality. We learned at an early age when the watches were issued, we kept an eye on the weather. When a warning was issued, it was time to get to the basement for shelter.
June 16 happened to be one of those days.
When we heard the warning issued for our county, we grabbed our ‘tornado kit’ and headed to our basement. My dad called to warn us of many spotted tornadoes in our area and to be sure we were taking cover. A few minutes later we lost power. So we stood in the dark with one flashlight on and our little radio… waiting and listening to the moment by moment updates. They announced the one thing you don’t want to hear, “confirmed tornado on the ground.”
There are often storms that are capable of producing a tornado, but once it has actually put one down, you know it is for real. The radio reporting was intense. They were yelling for people to take cover, that the tornado was hitting rural homes. Then they started sighting multiple tornadoes. As they gave directions, miles and estimated tracks of them, we were trying to quickly sort out in our minds where each one was and where they were moving. The information put the storm west of us moving east toward the small town of Pilger that is four miles away.
We seemed to be directly in the path it was moving. Tears filled my eyes. We have never been this close to the path of a tornado. All we could do at this point was pray.
It was strangely quiet. Normally we would be hearing heavy rain or hail, but we weren’t. We then heard a sound we have never heard before, kind of like driving fast with open windows. We looked at each other and thought this was it; we were waiting for it to hit.
It didn’t hit.
Right then my brother called and said radar looked like it had just passed us. We stayed in the basement a few more minutes to be sure it was safe to come out. That is when we heard Pilger took a direct hit.
Our hearts broke. Tears steamed down. Twin tornadoes. A rare occurrence of two strong tornadoes down at the same time. We knew it would have to be bad. Really bad. And it was. People emerged to see the town destroyed around them. People were trapped, people were injured. As we stood on our porch looking east at one of the few things left standing, the white Pilger water tower, emergency vehicles began streaming by our home. We just prayed.
Once our power was restored, we began to see the images, the unbelievable images of devastation. We were so grateful to be okay. We were so heartbroken for all the loss around us. To our west, to our east. Lives were lost. Homes, farms, livestock and businesses were lost. Forever changed by this day. (In the image above, by the group of what is left of trees, once stood a beautiful home.)
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {Philippians 4:7}
So now people lean on their faith in God to move forward. These are events that we will never understand, but we know we must trust God, lean on Him and gain strength from Him. To help those affected, I will be donating a portion of all sales in my shop this month directly to disaster relief for Stanton County. Our sweet country home, Stanton County.
Someone else’s loss is our heartache, too.
Please keep the special people of Stanton County, as well as other parts of Nebraska affected by these tornadoes, in your prayers.
By Jennifer at StudioJRU.
Bev Duncan @ Walking Well With God says
Jennifer,
The pictures I have seen of your home state have been devastating. So grateful you are okay, but heartsick for those that lost everything. I will most certainly pray for the people of Stanton County and other areas hit by the tornadoes. I used to live in Illinois and my daughter still remembers being so frightened of the tornado sirens. In things like this we truly cannot lean on our own understanding…
Blessings and prayers coming your way,
Bev
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Oh yes, those sirens are scary to hear, but save lives! So grateful for your prayers, Bev.
Cindy Fort says
Praying with you over the devastation…a tornado wiped out (a long time ago) the small town near where I grew up – and I remember how hard it was for old friends and neighbors. Your post tells the story so well, and points us all to trusting God in the midst of all our circumstances…
Blessings,
Cindy
Jennifer Studio JRU says
That is so sad to hear! They change lives forever, don’t they, Cindy? Grateful for your prayers.
mommashopper says
our prayers are with you and everyone there.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
So grateful for your prayers!
Birdie Cutair says
That is so sad and scary. I just ordered something from you. And I am praying for all in the affected area.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Thank you so much, Birdie. I know it will be appreciated, as well as your prayers!
Sharmin says
Prayers for the people affected by the tornadoes. Just a few short weeks ago Arkansas was slammed, my cousin, her husband, and children were praying in their closet and heard it. It missed their home by 1/4 mile. Even through the devastation, so many stories of faith and trusting God came from Mayflower and Vilonia, Arkansas.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
So grateful to hear your family is ok, Sharmin. It is quite an experience to see the path of a tornado and see how close you were to it. Yes you are right, so many stories of faith comes out in these times!
Kiki says
I’m heartbroken just reading your sad, sad tale. In fact your ‘story’ has immediately re-adjusted my own priorities.
Minutes ago, I returned from my garden where I’ve learned from our trusted tree surgeon that our majestic cedar tree (it must be well over 90 years old and
isWAS offering shade & shelter to an enormous surface of our terrain) will have to be taken down. The very strong hailstorms and rainstorms we had since New Year have damaged the bark so badly that all the needles are falling off, the tree is bleeding exceedingly and branches brake off…. I said to the gardener that it breaks my heart as this tree was part of why I absolutely fell hard for our house – but this is NOTHING in comparison to you friends who’ve lost everything.I shall pray for all of you concerned and I am also thankful for you to be spared. What heartache – and yet God will help you to go on. Big hugs over to you, a wave of thoughts and a warm heart full of prayers.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
I can understand how a beautiful old tree can become part of your home nearly as much as your home itself. And we feel the same way about damage to our home we had a few weeks ago from a huge hail storm, it just doesn’t compare. Puts things into perspective, doesn’t it, Kiki? So grateful for your prayers.
Lorilee Mundfrom says
It was so awful to see the news reports of that disaster. Then another tornado or two caused devastation (not quite as bad) in South Dakota. Wessington Springs was hit hard and some farms in eastern SD. Those storms really are no respecter of persons, places, or things. Some homes are destroyed and one across the street can be left totally intact. I am thankful there was no loss of life.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
It is awful, Lorilee. Actually, two people lost their life with these tornadoes, including a 5 year old little girl in Pilger. We are also praying for SD.
Amy KW says
As a fellow Nebraskan, and farmer, my heart and my husband’s heart also ache for the devastation that happened this week. You captured so many emotions so well in sharing your story – the fear, the relief, the sadness, the emptiness. And your photo caption “Someone else’s loss is our heartache too” could not be any more true. Please know our hearts are broken as yours are, and we have been and will continue to lift up you, our neighbors in prayer. Wrapping my arms around you in a giant virtual hug from several counties away.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
So nice to hear from a fellow Nebraskan today, Amy. We all ache for our neighbors, don’t we? Grateful for your love and prayers.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
So nice to hear from a fellow Nebraskan today, Amy. We all ache for our neighbors, don’t we? Grateful for your love and prayers.
Amber K says
Being from Missouri, I too can understand sitting in your basement waiting and praying. I’m so sorry to read of the loss of life. 🙁 Loss of everything else is so hard, but eventually can be replaced or rebuilt. Life cannot. My heart hurts for them and they’re in my prayers. God’s at work in the situation and He will be revealed. Strength and courage to all. XO
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Yes, Amber, your words are so true. All those ‘things’ can be replaced, life cannot. So grateful for your prayers.
Jennifer says
Jennifer, I am so sorry. I will definitely continue praying for Stanton County. Bless you, sister.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
I know Stanton County is so grateful for your prayers, Jennifer!
Lisa-Jo says
So many tears here reading this Jennifer – how yes, there is always another part of the body in the way of the Tornado, and when it’s hit we all hurt. Thank you so much for sharing this glimpse with us.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Thank you, Lisa-Jo! xo
Rachel Lundy says
My heart breaks for these people who have lost so much. I will pray for the people there and the many rescue workers. May the Lord give peace that passes all understanding.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
I know the people of this community cherish your prayers, Rachel. Thank you.
Maria Marino says
Thank you for sharing this with us Jennifer so we can have a better understanding of what it is like and expanded our compassion. For sure, someone else’s loss is our heartache too. The devastation from this week’s tornadoes breaks my heart. Will be praying for Stanton County with all my heart.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Expand our compassion… what a beautiful thought, Maria. Thank you so much for your prayers.
Gwen says
Oh Jennifer. You WERE near. It is always so very still before a tornado. Eerily. Then the noise. There were none when my Dad was a boy in the 30’s but in the 60’s when I was little, quite a few. Strangely, there was a tornado ( small) here last fall. I called my Mom. It looked like tornado Sky to the east. Still. Toward the hilly part of our city. I never forget the look of funnel as we hurried home in NE when my two sisters were alone as my parents had taken me to the dentist. My mother crying. A funny looking Sky. Then the funnel moving toward our farm and my Mom telling Dad drive faster. My sisters had gone to the cellar and were afraid. Luckily my older sister realized the need to go down…but we neared home and the funnel moved north and took two other farm houses that day. The hail and heavy rain came after. But last fall, I got that same memory of the Sky. I sat then looking out my French doors and a roar kind of like a train passing by the north side of my house, was twisting my very straight cypress tree and it literally looked like a palm tree as this passed on only the north side of my house with such force and noise like a heavy train rolling by. Then gone. And that weird colored gray blue sky and heavy heavy rain. Now that was nothing but still forceful. The quiet? Then the noise? It was passing by you and turned as it was touching down. My mind cannot grasp foor I’ve seen it with my eyes a scattered doll, a leveled house….and owner just wandering–I wept and waited for news on you. Verse art I’ve purchased from you kept me comforted. Blessings. Love, and I pray you never…EVer…feel nor hear nor experience a tornado again. Gwen
Janet Rife says
Jennifer,
Thank you for a powerful description of your experience with the Pilger tornado. I live in Lincoln, so I feel an identity with fellow Nebraskans who lived through this tragedy. We are praying for those who were devastated by this storm and asking God to provide comfort and strength as your community goes forward.
Janet
Stacey says
Bless your hearts! Thank you so much for sharing! I’ve been fortunate to never experience this! Take care!
Stacey 🙂
Nicole says
Prayers from Omaha for recovery and rebuilding. We were praying as we watched on the news. Coming from Kansas, and relief efforts from the Greensburg tornado, prayers will continue. Blessings!
Beth WIlliams says
Jennifer,
Prayers for Stanton county. A few years ago a tornado, or something similar, hit upper E. TN in Greeneville. The devastation was bad. We must lean on God in times like these and trust that He knows best.
May God help those who lost everything!
Jenni DeWitt says
Jennifer,
I was huddled in my parent’s basement in Wakefield, NE that same day. Like you, we were holding our breath, waiting to see what path these tornados would take. They ended up going just a mile east of where we were crouched, terrified. You are so right in saying that our hearts ache for others’ loss. It was amazing to see people from all across the country come help with clean-up. There is still so much good left in this world – in God’s people and their love for each other.