Aftermath
A month ago our town was hit by a devastating tornado. Nancy Kopp has written of it and earlier storms which included a destructive ice storm in winter time and an equally destructive hail storm which battered us a few weeks ago. Then came the tornado roaring along a diagonal path across our city, doing great damage to homes, businesses, and the University. We began to wonder if Nature had decided to pick on Manhattan. However, we are not alone as several small towns in the midwest have been completely demolished by storms this summer.
As with any catastrophe, there are many stories to be told. We heard of a cat who survived in an undamaged closet for many days and came out unscathed when found.
A couple tell of dashing into their concrete safe room where they listened to the rest of the house being blown away. There is a picture of a flag flying at the top of a pole above the remains of an obliterated business. An especially poignant scene was the area where a number of storage sheds were completely destroyed. A smashed drum testified to the loss of instruments belonging to a local band. Upended cars told sad stories of being left there ln storage when their owners left for Iraq.
Now it is good to think of the progress in recovery that has gone on in the past month and will continue for some time.. Help came immediately to the stricken areas. Along with the officials and organizations, volunteers were on the scenes right away; and many of them gave several weekends to helping with the clean up jobs. Repairs at the University were made quickly and summer school classes were soon resumed and conferences held as planned. Fall classes will begin at regularly scheduled times. In the section of town most severely hit, workmen are now seen up on roofs of repairable houses. Homeowners are planning to rebuild. One man said he will be glad to correct some things which he didn't like in the original plan.
Especially remarkable are the attitude and determination shown by those who felt the tornado's wrath directly. Those speaking publicly seem eager to get on with recovery and rebuilding. Almost all of them conclude their remarks with "We are so fortunate in not having any loss of life."
I write this in admiration for the resilience of the human spirit.