Reel

Tornado Damage

Tornado Damage
Clip: 498514_1_1
Year Shot: 1970 (Estimated Year)
Audio: Yes
Video: Color
Tape Master: 1978
Original Film: WPA 525
HD: N/A
Location: Ohio
Timecode: 01:13:02 - 01:14:22

This is a bizarre scene were a reporter interviews victims of a tornado. A family of three (mother, father and young daughter) sit on the edge of the foundation of their house. Behind them you see the remnants of what used to be their living room. The walls of their house have been torn away leaving the interior completely exposed. So the family sits in the place where their wall used to be, a reporter is seated next to them with a microphone in hand. The first question the reporter asks is, "Did you have some doubts, at any time, that the house was gonna hold?" The father states that it felt like even the concrete floor was shaking. He goes on to say that the whole thing only lasted about 15 to 20 seconds. He came up the stairway to find that his living room no longer existed. The dining room, living room and kitchen were all gone. "Looked up the hallway, and that was gone too." The man kind of laughs after this statement. It is surprising how calm he remains. His wife comments, "All we did was pray". The man thanks the Lord that his family is alive and that no one was hurt. They all got out without a scratch. The reporter asks about the animals. The man tells a story about how his German shepherd flew four houses to the south, while the neighbor's dog flew in the opposite direction. Both dogs survived.