Friend Survives Eye of Recent Tornado

A few weeks ago we were sharing concerns about the devastating cyclone that hit Myanmar (Burma). It’s ironic that here in the states the term cyclone is rarely used in a meteorological sense. We say “hurricane” for Atlantic-based cyclones and “tornado” or “twister” for the land-based cyclones typical of the Midwest. In the eighteen years that I lived in Iowa, the only time I heard the word cyclone was in reference to the mascot name of the Iowa State University “Cyclones.”

Last Sunday, however, northwest Iowa was hit with a twister of cyclone proportions. Worst hit was the town of Parkersburg, which was just a short drive from our home in Waterloo. Back in the Nineties I spent a few Saturday shooting weddings in this little town of less than 2,000 people. Judging by the footage in these clips, there is a good possibility the churches I worked in are no longer there.

But the clip I want to share is this story about a former co-worker, Carman Wipf, whose house disappeared before her eyes and she lived to tell about it. [It's save to download required player for this clip.]

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In case, you cannot view the video, my friend went home to put down her pop-up trailer (having heard about the potential storm). When she and her friend and children arrive, a tornado sends them to the basement, but before they reach the cubby hole under the stairway, the house is lifted away like the lid of a cookie jar and they nearly go with it... then suddenly all is momentarily calm... in the eye.

Hearing them tell it is worth the time at the link.

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Carman was one of those rare students who endures high school, goes to college, makes life-changing decisions, earns a teaching degree, and returns to her alma mater to teach among some who had her as a student. That takes courage. She was my daughter’s volleyball coach (and led the team to three consecutive undefeated seasons).

When I accepted my current position in Michigan, it happened to be Carmen who was the first teacher I told about the bitter-sweet move for our family. In our last year there in Iowa, Carmen and her husband built a new home in New Hartford. It’s that home that is seen (or should I say no longer seen since only the basement survived?) in the interview at this link. My former school is in the background of the interview of Carmen and her friend. Her ability to tell of this life-and-death story in such a calm matter-of-fact manner is typical of the teacher I first met some twenty-five years ago.

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We will be in Waterloo, Iowa (just southeast of this storm site), next weekend for a wedding. We'll see Carmen there and ask the question I know you're all wondering: You found most of your house nearby, but did you ever find your pop-up trailer?

Main story here.

Here are some other related pictures of this tornado and video of the destruction.