Stories from the Destruction – Voices of Recovery

Photos and story by Debra Alexander Fisher, American Red Cross Volunteer  

 

KINGSTON SPRINGS, Tenn., Dec. 14, 2022 - The devastating tornado disaster Dec. 11, 2021 for the residents of Thompson's Station is story of resilience and community. This historic neighborhood is no stranger weather event devastation.  

 

Next door neighbors Susan Greer and Jennifer Appleton worked side by side helping to clean debris from their homes after tornadoes touched down in the early morning hours leaving a swath of destruction in its path. These two women told stories of Middle Tennessee 2010 Floods where they walked hand in hand across their neighbor's field to safety and how thankful they were for the help the American Red Cross was giving during that disaster. They both still have their Red Cross clean-up kit buckets from that disaster. This morning, they will need more help from the Red Cross, but their realize volunteers are already there to assist with the recovery.  

 

Further down the street at the Shacklett Church of Christ the Moore Brothers Jeremiah and Bo jump out of their truck with boards and tarps to secure the Church from any further damage. Across the street Roy and Stephanie Greer had friends and family from young to seasoned cutting trees and hauling debris from their home. Families working alongside families.  

 

Moving further down the road Laura Waxmen and her brother assess the damage as they coordinate setting up a way for all to charge phones and shelter.  

 

The stories of survivors of the 2021 December tornadoes spoke of resilience and gratitude to the American Red Cross volunteers who started as strangers reaching out to help residents, and then quickly became friends and a beacon of hope following the storms.  

 

For more information on what the American Red Cross of Tennessee Region is doing to help tornado disaster relief, go to RedCross.org/Tennessee.