I've been pondering the storm damage I've seen over the last 12 days in our county. For several hours since the storm hit, I drove around taking pictures. I spent time between shots just observing the people, and in general just trying to stay out of the way while still trying to capture the utter devastation across our county. But when you are surrounded by what can only be described as a war zone it's hard not to feel your heart breaking just a little bit more for the people affected.

I watched in amazement as I saw dump trucks being loaded with debris from homes and any other structure that was blown to pieces. In another town I saw a semi being loaded with just tree branches and watched in amazement as it was filled but it didn't seem to even make a dent in the clean up. In most places the trees that were down lined the streets in piles so high that it looked like you were driving down a trail in the middle of a forest. On the other side of the piles were damaged homes.

I saw neighbors helping neighbors which always makes me smile, but this time it didn't even bring a smile, it brought sadness. I am just an observer trying to document it. Most of the time there aren't smiles and waves, but looks of despair and exhaustion.

Even though the storm didn't affect me personally, the feeling of helplessness and knowing the challenges that each of these families will be facing weighs heavily on me. I've seen loss, personally, and helped pack up remnants from fires and floods, but this kind of damage is just unbelievable, it's worse than that anything I've ever seen, including the 2011 storm. The pictures are nothing. They can't even grasp what it's like on the ground.

I drove through an area cemetery just to check on the great grandparents, they seemed to have faired fine, but I swear they moved and changed their headstone, apparently I need to visit more often. Then I headed down to Norway. I saw more damage north of VanHorne. Even though it's the same story at every farm just about, grain bins down, barns gone, trees shredded and uprooted, houses damaged, and crops just flattened, each place deserves to be documented, even though I know I can't cover them all.

As I drove into Norway, I saw linemen from Wisconsin and Missouri were still in the area repairing lines. Some of the men were laying on the ground resting for a bit, and looking like they had been pulling an all-nighter, and I'm sure they have been for days. Norway seemed to have gotten off much better than VanHorne, Keystone, and Newhall, but it was still hit pretty hard. An apartment complex that had been hit also caught fire there. Several homes sustained damage and one was flattened. But for the most part, the streets and property were looking pretty good considering the other towns I'd been to.

And still, I haven't covered all the damage. Trust me when I say, it's bad. It's really bad. I'll end this with a plea for help for those that are too busy to ask. If you are able-bodied and can help do so. If you can't but you can donate some supplies, do that. Justclick here to find out what the needs are and how you can best help.

For photos from south of Garrison and north of Van Horne, highway 30 and into the Norway area, click here.





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