The twisted wreckage of homes and lives lies scattered across rural Marshall County, part of an area we serve, where multiple tornadoes tore through in early April, leaving behind a trail of devastation that has deeply impacted residents. For many, the storms stripped away not just roofs and walls, but also the fragile sense of stability they'd fought to maintain. More than four months later, residents are still struggling to rebuild what they lost.
Teresa and her sister had hunkered down in a back room as their mobile home succumbed to the storm's fury. The tornado showed no mercy. Violent winds scooted the metal building. Teresa said, “It tore apart some of the plumbing, and damaged the roof. Some places were wet, and I was afraid for my sister to walk across the floor.”
For Teresa, the damage isn't just structural — it's personal. Her sister's fragile health makes every uneven step a risk, and with power out for more than a week, basic necessities like clean water and a functioning refrigerator became luxuries. Clutching a bottle of water and a package of deodorant delivered by Sacred Heart staff and volunteers, Teresa told us, “I'm so glad you're here.”
Down the road, Carl and his family faced a similar nightmare. His home was battered beyond recognition. Struggling to articulate his needs in the wake of the chaos, he pieced together a few words. “How do you even know what you need when you need everything?” Carl said, his words echoing the feeling of being overwhelmed, experienced by so many. For those without insurance, the path to recovery remains uncertain, leaving grassroots efforts like Sacred Heart's to fill the gap with water, food and toiletries, and a promise to help where we can.
Eric, whose extended family occupies seven or eight homes along a single stretch of road, spoke of a community fractured by shared loss. “Normally, our family comes together when one of us is hurting,” he said. “But all of us are hurting. We don't know what to do.”
The storms left no one in the community untouched. At every turn, giant trees were bent over, wrenched and twisted--their bark peeled away. Others were plucked from the ground like blades of grass. Some homes had no roofs. Some had no windows. Some homes were partially destroyed, and there were flat pieces of land where homes once stood.
“Can we pray with you before you leave,” Eric said tearfully as he grabbed the hands of our staff members. His whole family gathered with us as he prayed, “Most gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day…we thank you for Sacred Heart and the most generous people who have poured out help to us…please continue to send love and help throughout our community. Amen.”
Through your generous giving, Sacred Heart Southern Missions has been a lifeline, going street by street and house by house to deliver essentials — water, food, batteries, lanterns, plastic totes, garbage bags, clothing and more. Staff and volunteers have offered not just supplies but also prayers, hugs, tears, and shoulders to cry on. “So many people cried,” Volunteer Coordinator Melissa Ellis said. “They were just grateful we didn't forget them.”
Yet the need remains.
For Teresa, Carl, Eric and countless others, the road to recovery will be long and uncertain. The emotional toll lingers. Sacred Heart Southern Missions, through our Emergency Aid Fund, continues to offer support as best we can.
