When I was a little boy, I remember my Aunt Sis and Uncle Waymond losing their home as tornadoes ripped through Xenia, Ohio.
Tornadoes for me with that exception were something I saw on television news or in movies, but they were not something that I had a firsthand experience with.
As I went to a meeting on the morning of April 27 in Rossville, Ga., it was apparent to me that I was on the heels of a tornado or very high winds that had knocked down trees and stole the power source from the traffic signal lights and the government building where I was to meet with representatives from around the area relating to transportation planning. As I saw the wind damage, I thought how lucky I was again to be just behind the incident.
As the day progressed, storm systems threatened, and by 7:30 p.m., my normal watching of “The Andy Griffith Show” was halted by an apparent downing of the receiver or sender that provided local signals to our Charter cable. So with no local news service, our little community was in the dark to what was headed our way. My parents had taught me as a kid to open windows when weather threatened, and I had gone as far as opening my doors.
It was past eight when I felt a change, heard the sound of a train and stuck my head out the back door to see a monster headed toward our subdivision. It seemed the black sky was just reaching down and touching the ground as far as I could see. The only way I knew that it was a tornado was by looking up in the sky and seeing what appeared to be the hood of a car and other debris flying high in the air. I quickly moved into the interior bathroom, praying and awaiting for it to come through.
For some reason, the behemoth turned after destroying our interstate commercial district, headed across the center of Ringgold, devastating landmarks and ripping houses from existence. It then proceeded across White Oak Mountain and continued through Cherokee Valley and into Apison, Tenn. This became the longest tornado on the ground ever recorded.
At points, the destruction was a mile wide. Our community lost eight cherished members and hundreds of lives were shattered by home and business destruction. We lost schools, city and county facilities. We are just one story on a night that reached across the Southern U.S. changing the face of community after community and family after family.
I cannot say enough positive things about the first responders – police, fire, paramedics – that worked tirelessly through the night serving our community.
I worked with survivors myself until slightly before 3 a.m., before catching a few hours of sleep and returning to emergency command the next morning. So, I had a first-hand opportunity to see or hear of many of the heroic actions taken to assist. I also want to commend the great sense of community that came from neighbor helping neighbor – everything from searching a devastated house for survivors to bringing a neighbor to safety or shelter. In the darkness, in the wet, between downed power lines, automobiles hanging in the air, in only what could be described as a war zone, people stood up and became more than I am sure some ever thought they could be.
In waves came state workers, utility workers, relief organizations, church groups, civic groups and so many individuals reaching out to help. We could never know all the stories; we could never know all the kindnesses shared. I pray that every community received the outpouring that blessed Ringgold. Our community has a long road ahead to rebuild the lives of those who are uninsured, underinsured or without means to start again, and while FEMA will provide some support the majority of this effort will remain in the hands of people willing to give time, resources, and money to create new opportunities from the disaster.
If you are interested in supporting this effort, you may send a tax-deductible donation to the Catoosa Organization Acting in Disaster, P.O. Box 53, Ringgold, GA 30736. If you have a question about help, you may currently call (706) 935-2109 for additional information. If you have had a disaster in your home community, and we now have many across our region, I encourage you to step up, find out what is needed and volunteer or give money or other requested needs.
Thank those serving you and make a difference at home. If you can help in my hometown, I know it will make a difference in the lives of many who need it.
Randall Franks is an award-winning musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his role as “Officer Randy Goode” on TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” now on WGN America. His latest CD release, “An Appalachian Musical Revival,” is by www.shareamericafoundation.org. He is a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame. He is a syndicated columnist for http://randallfranks.com/ and can be reached at rfrankscatoosa@gmail.com.