24 - BLACK IN THE NORTHWEST

BLACK IN THE NORTHWEST

14 x 20 inches

(1950—Tornado in Burt and Dodge counties, northeast Nebraska)

Tornadoes violently touched down on July 15, 1950, leaving a trail of destruction across Burt and Dodge Counties. Even though I was only six years old, tragic events from the tornado remain a vivid memory.

The images linger in my mind as though it happened yesterday—I remember a series of rapidly synchronized events that occurred that day. Dad had gone to pick up my sister from a birthday party while I was home with Mom, sick with a fever. Our hired man came to the door to summon Mom to come outside to look at the black storm building in the northwest.

A dark, eerie stillness hung with heaviness over our farm; we were frightened and wished Dad would get home soon. We nervously watched for him from the front of the house. Just minutes later, we saw him speeding down our long curving lane and frantically honking the horn. When he got to our front door, he slammed the car to a halt and yelled for all of us to get into the car. Without hesitation, we jumped in the car and sped off to safety. Dad had a sixth sense about where to go for safety. He would have done anything to protect his family.

The tornado took part of our roof and part of a huge old maple tree. Other families in the area were much less fortunate. After the skies cleared, we drove from farm to farm, looking at the ruins, gasping as we saw the incredible destruction. We shed tears of empathy for our neighbors. Sad energy completely permeated the stricken countryside as farmers grieved their massive losses.

Dad spent the next few days helping those with heavy losses. The darkness of the storm brought everyone closer. Dark and light were intertwined.