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Feb. 5, 2008 was election night in 22 states across our country. Dan and I had planned to make a pot of coffee and watch the election returns together. Instead we made a pot of coffee and waited to hear about the death toll from a nearby town that was destroyed by a tornado tonight. The town of Gassville, Ar, about 25 miles East of us, was destroyed early this evening when it was hit. Our son-in-law, who is a reserve deputy with the County Sheriff’s Office, and our daughter, who is a nurse, were both called out to help with search and rescue and patrol and with the influx of injured at the hospital. There was only one ambulance left at the hospital to take care of any calls that came in from our area so the others could be sent to the next county east of us. There was also the danger of gas leaks and fires to think about.
In Atkins, Ar a mother, father, and their 11 year old daughter were all killed when their home was hit. The only thing left of their house was the concrete slab. The house across the street was undamaged. The town of Highland, Ar has been destroyed. The officers who were able to make it into town asked State Police to send anyone they could to help search for injured. The Associated Press is saying that a total of 22 people have died tonight from the tornadoes that hit in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. At 2:30 am, we are still waiting to hear news and the local death toll. I know it will be daylight before all the injured and killed are found. I hope everyone can take a minute to remember these folks. And maybe we should all think about how quickly life can change through no decision of our own.