Is there a Medic in the House?
A tornado turned their reception hall into an infirmary!
Stacy & Clifford White - Petersburg, Indiana
I awoke on the morning of June 2, 1990, in the small town of Petersburg, Ind., anxiously awaiting the 6 p.m. wedding we had been planning for nearly a year. The wedding ceremony was beautiful, and we were blessed to have many family members and friends in attendance. However, as we exited the church for the reception, the wind was gusting at 30-40 mph and the sky was black.
At the reception, the electricity went out just as we were beginning to eat. I was frantic, because no power meant no music and no lights. Little did I know those troubles were mild compared to what was soon to follow. The power came back on after about ten minutes, but shortly thereafter we received notice that a tornado had been spotted just outside of town. As we all hurried to the basement of the reception hall, the doors flew in and glass shattered all around us. All I remember thinking was that I was going to die. An F4 tornado had struck and, in what seemed like an eternity, had nearly destroyed our little town in a matter of seconds.
By the grace of God, the old reception hall was still standing, but had significant damage. There were only a few minor injuries to guests. I will never forget the devastation I witnessed when we went outside to view the damage. The parking lot looked like a junkyard, with cars tossed all around. All of our vehicles were total losses. Since three of my bridesmaids and I were registered nurses, they made the reception hall into a makeshift first aid area. We transported an injured man into the hall on a door, but he passed away before EMTs could arrive.
Unfortunately, seven people lost their lives in our town that day. Instead of being angry over a ruined wedding day, I am thankful that I am still alive. Clifford and I have been happily married for seventeen years, and are now the proud parents of two energetic boys. |
