02.10.13 Pray for Hattiesburg

I have so much I want to share about our magical family vacation to Walt Disney World, but I just don't feel quite right ooohing and ahhhing over our amazing time without first talking about the events that unfolded Sunday.  There is so much about this day that I want to forget quickly, and yet there are so many things that I want to remember forever.  Sunday began like any other Sunday, crazy running around and getting ready for church.  We went to church as usual, and after church we went to one of our favorite eats in Hattiesburg, Villie's, it's right across from the campus of USM, well it was.  Everyone, still tired from our trip, napped easily.  David went to the office to get some work done, and I began the daunting task of laundry for 6 people from a week of vacation, yikes!  David came home shortly after 4:00, and we just sat and visited and watched TV.  Our plans were to go to McAlister's for a college fundraiser about 5:30.  About 5:00, we began to get the children ready for our outing.  Shoes. Potty.  You know all those things that you have to do with four littles 6 and under.  Then, our electricity began to flicker.  A lot.  The sirens had been going off most of the afternoon starting about 3:00, but we really thought we were going to miss most of the storms.  At 5:15 our power went off, we put the children in the bathroom in the center of our house with a flashlight.  They played happily in the tub.  David and I walked around the house assessing the madness.  Then, we heard it.  And then we felt it. It all happened so very fast.  In a matter of minutes it was past our area, and we had no idea of the aftermath. We hopped in the car when it was past us to see what we could see, having absolutely NO idea how bad it really was.  We were amazed at what we saw.  The beautiful Presbyterian church just down the road from us suffered much damage.  The stunning alumni building at USM destroyed.  Homes up and down the road damaged and many destroyed completely.  We ended up leaving our home because there were reports of gas leaks close to where we live, and the power was still off.  We stayed with a precious church family for the night, the Davis family.  And then we watched the news and began to get phone calls and texts from our church family as many assessed the damage. Below are some pictures and video footage from the storm.  

David and I have talked much over the last two days of this event.  You will notice that during most of this video, the tornado is on the right side of Hardy Street.  Just before it hits the intersection where 98 and 49 meet, it jumped across the street to the left side, destroying the corner of USM campus and leaving much damage in its wake.  

We now know that this was an EF-4 tornado.  

I snapped this picture while were at the Davis' house watching the news Sunday evening. Had the tornado not crossed over Hardy Street to the left side of the road, our home and church would not be standing.  Wow.  

The devastation around our area is just amazing, a terrible and horrific sight to behold.  Yesterday as we drove around, we realized just how very close this terrible monster came to our home.  We were less than 200 yards to the right of the path it took.  Wow.  That's sobering.  

This is the beautiful Westminster Presbyterian Church located less than a mile from our home.  I have several sweet ladies who exercise with me who are members of this beautiful church.  My heart aches for them.  

You know, in the midst of terrible, there is a lot of good.  A lot.  Our community has banded together to reach out and help those who are hurting and in need.  Our church has been a hub for relief workers and community folks who just want to help others.  Serve locally.  That's what we are doing.  I think the best news so far there has not been a single fatality.  Amazing.  Awesome.  A testament of the One who is so much greater and bigger than the storms.  Please pray for our city.  Pray for Hattiesburg.