Freak Storm and Tornado Destroyed our Home, but not Our Lives

 
Written by: Shari Eve Pack

As told by: Karen Kauffman

This is truly a remarkable story from a Louisiana family who survived a horrific storm and tornado.

Steven and Karen Kauffman along with their two boys, Joseph and Joshua, lived in a small town in Merryville, Louisiana when disaster struck. Their mobile home rested in a field several miles outside of town. The family enjoyed their private surroundings in the heart of Louisiana’s countryside.

Steve’s job at the time often took him away on business trips. Though he enjoyed the travel, he always worried about his wife and sons while he was out of town. Especially, because they lived in a very rural area and if help was needed, it was miles away.

It was October, 1997, when Steve left once again, on a trip to Texas. He remembers telling his family how much he loved them and that he would return as soon as possible. Karen, worked a part-time job while Joseph then eight, and Joshua six, were at school.

Karen recalls that on this particular day, there were severe thunderstorms. When she got home from work, the boys were playing music in the living room of their 14 x 80 foot mobile home. The mobile home was the only structure on a 1-acre lot surrounded by beautiful trees. The topography of this region was not conducive to tornados therefore, they were never a concern. And, insurance was not considered for this peril.

Since the boys were listening to music, Karen did not turn on the television that evening which may have provided some warning of the weather. However, it was unlikely due to the speed in which this event occurred, that there would have been a warning of something of this magnitude.

As Karen began preparing dinner, she could hear the unusually loud thunder. The boys and Karen looked outside and observed a lightening storm and hail. Since it was in the evening, they really couldn’t see past their home. They all had just turned around from looking out the front door when their home began shaking violently and the windows blew out. Seconds later, the mobile home was picked up and tossed, landing on its roof. There was no time to cling onto anything. They literally flew around inside until the home came to rest on its roof.

When the initial shock of what just occurred struck Karen, she picked herself out of the debris and began yelling for her boys. She tried to walk on what was left of her home to get to Joseph and Joshua.

She came across Joshua standing on the roof, which was now the floor of the home. He had miraculously only sustained minor cuts and bruises. They located a flash light and continued to follow Joseph’s calls for help. They found Joseph trapped beneath a large, oak dresser. They tried for several minutes to free him, but quickly tired out. It was dark, the wind was calming down and it was still hailing. Karen began to pray to God to help them. She was scared and knew that something needed to happen in order for her to get this dresser off of her son.

She said that suddenly, the drawers which once seemed impossible to move, could be loosened and moved out of the dresser. When the dresser was light enough, they gave it another try. And this time, it was successful. Joseph emerged nearly unscathed by the event. They still weren’t sure of what just happened to them.

They exited the mobile home through a broken window and made their way down the highway to the house of a family member.  As the electricity was still out, they were left with few details at that point.

The following morning, Karen, Joseph and Joshua walked back to the place where their home once stood. They found a pile of crushed metal and stood there in shock wondering how in the world they made it out of the rubble.

The mobile home had been completely turned upside down and had collapsed into nothing but crushed metal. All of their belongings were destroyed along with the home. In viewing the damage, one had to wonder how anyone could have made it out alive.

The material loss didn’t matter to the Kauffman family because all that was important was the knowledge that God was watching out for them that night and brought their family to safety.

They found out later that only a few homes in the area were affected by this freak storm and small tornado. In fact, the incident received little, if any media attention. 

Steve rushed home to find his family safe but, faced with the difficult task of rebuilding their lives. Since they didn’t have insurance to cover this disastrous event, and the government didn’t step in due to the random and minimal damage to the community, they were on their own. The Red Cross provided clothing and some assistance.

The family lived with Karen’s parents until they were able to finance a new home on the same site, the following year.

Steve settled down into a position that was more local to the family and didn’t require travel.

The Kauffman family continues to thank God for their lives and for the friends and family that helped them through the ordeal.

To this day, these survivors of a random storm which almost took their lives and did destroy their home, cringe whenever they hear the wind howl. Their prayers go out to those who have not been as fortunate and have lost their lives or family members in devastating disasters.