Cincinnati Tornado: Two Months Later
By: Marci Manley
Updated: December 31, 2012
On New Year's Eve, a tornado ripped through Northwest Arkansas, devastating the small community of Cincinnati.
KNWA's Marci Manley has been following this story since the day it happened. She went to Cincinnati to check on on the folks who live there.
"Everybody's just looking forward I think, looking for better times probably." says one Cincinnati resident.
It's nearly two months since the New Year's Eve tornado tore through Cincinnati and the twister left a trail full of tears.
While much of the debris have been hauled off, memories of what were still hang in the air a sign there's a winding road ahead.
"It's going to be a long process of recovery."
For pastor Andy Newbill, it doesn't seem that very long ago when his pews were filled with supplies for storm victims, and people were coming through his door for shelter.
"In some ways, it seemed like it was just a dream," remember Newbill, "And in other ways it seems like it was just yesterday."
With immediate needs filled, Newbill and others stockpiling supplies and waiting to hear the whacking of hammers.
"For those people who lost their homes, they have no place to put those things," says Newbill.
There's no shortage of support of volunteers, Newbill says people call every week especially on the weekends.
"I had a guy stop me on my school bus the other day and say hey, I want to give you some money for the fire department," Newbill adds.
And Habitat for Humanity is waiting in the wings to be put to work.
While Cincinnati may never be the same after this deadly storm. There's hope that when folks reach the end of this road to recovery, they'll stand side by side as survivors. Under clear, blue skies and looking toward a brighter tomorrow.
As Newbill points out, "That wasn't a good time, but just look at the good things that came from that. We work together to move forward - takes more than a tornado to get rid of that."
KNWA's Marci Manley has been following this story since the day it happened. She went to Cincinnati to check on on the folks who live there.
"Everybody's just looking forward I think, looking for better times probably." says one Cincinnati resident.
It's nearly two months since the New Year's Eve tornado tore through Cincinnati and the twister left a trail full of tears.
While much of the debris have been hauled off, memories of what were still hang in the air a sign there's a winding road ahead.
"It's going to be a long process of recovery."
For pastor Andy Newbill, it doesn't seem that very long ago when his pews were filled with supplies for storm victims, and people were coming through his door for shelter.
"In some ways, it seemed like it was just a dream," remember Newbill, "And in other ways it seems like it was just yesterday."
With immediate needs filled, Newbill and others stockpiling supplies and waiting to hear the whacking of hammers.
"For those people who lost their homes, they have no place to put those things," says Newbill.
There's no shortage of support of volunteers, Newbill says people call every week especially on the weekends.
"I had a guy stop me on my school bus the other day and say hey, I want to give you some money for the fire department," Newbill adds.
And Habitat for Humanity is waiting in the wings to be put to work.
While Cincinnati may never be the same after this deadly storm. There's hope that when folks reach the end of this road to recovery, they'll stand side by side as survivors. Under clear, blue skies and looking toward a brighter tomorrow.
As Newbill points out, "That wasn't a good time, but just look at the good things that came from that. We work together to move forward - takes more than a tornado to get rid of that."
They still need help to clean up and re-build. If you would like to help you can contact:
Kristen Marlatt
479-422-4157
kdmarlatt@yahoo.com
The weather radios Dan will be handing out in Cincinnati are available to the public through this website:
https://www.enhancedlivinginc.com/shopping/StoreID13061073/Welcome.aspx
