For an area that is not included in what is considered "Tornado Alley" we must be some sort of "Tornado cul de sac" or something here in Vinton. I have to admit when I heard the sirens go off, I looked out the window. When they went off a second time, I looked out the window. The third time I thought, "Alright, alright. Scott must really mean it!" Even after everything went through, I looked out the window and saw we were all here. It really didn't seem bad outside.

Then I started getting reports that the northwest part of town had been hit. My heart sank. I sent a text message to friends in the trailer court. "Are you alright?" then waited anxiously to hear back that they were.

"Not again!" I thought as I grabbed my camera and headed to the car. This job is so weird. On one hand, I'm thinking "how in the world am I going to get ANY decent pictures at night?" and in the other half of my brain I'm praying like crazy that no one got hurt. As I drove past the old Dollar General, and Happy Time, and didn't see any damage, part of my stomach tightened as I got closer to the edge of town. Vinton Park Apartments appeared to be undamaged. Then I got to Q Street where I knew a few folks that lived there, and I sighed with relief as nothing appeared to be damaged too bad there.

The trailer court, was hit, but still standing. I gave a sigh of relief again. At least the trailers were upright. The Legion was standing. Then I took a right. I saw a house that had damage on one end of the roof, but the walls were still standing, so I assumed that everyone was alright there.

On to D Street. In the dark you couldn't see much. And the street lights were out, but I saw metal and insulation all over the place. I saw the damage to P.A.M.S. storage was pretty bad. I assumed that the large buildings across the street were not. But I couldn't see. I sent more messages.

As Sunday started, I drove back out. The damage to these businesses was breathtaking. All I could do is stare in awe at how much damage can be done in such a short time. Kerry suffered, TCC Materials was hit really, really hard, the REC building was hit severely as well, and several in that area had significant damage.

I have no investment in these businesses, but it still felt like a punch in the gut. Vinton had been hit yet again. The only upside is that we didn't lose anyone. Considering that the storm hit before bedtime, when people are out and about, and not a single injury or fatality. That is something to be very thankful for.

I give up counting how many times we've been hit in the last decade or two by mother nature's floods, wind, Derechos and tornados. I mean, come on lady, what'd we do to you?

Buildings can be rebuilt. Cars, and even semis can be replaced. But you and I cannot. So I guess as long as we just lose stuff, we can deal with that. It's just "stuff." The important things like family, friends and neighbors, well, we're all still here.

That's all that matters.

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