Story by: Nate A. Fine, Red Cross volunteer

For the past week, Red Cross disaster volunteer Nate Fine has been caring for Coweta County families at our Red Cross hotel shelters in LaGrange, Georgia.  He’s been a helpful presence, ensuring the delivery of meals and even planning an Easter egg hunt for the children. One of the families he befriended, James and Brandon Carroll, a disabled father and son from Newnan, suffered major damage to their home when a tree fell through the roof. 

Nate spoke with them about their experience and retells their story here:

It was all quiet in Newnan, Georgia in the early morning hours of Friday, March 26, 2021.  Suddenly, at 12:30 am, the ear-splitting wail of a warning siren broke the silence and could only mean one thing: a tornado was approaching! 

Fortunately, Brandon Carroll, 36, scrambled through his bedroom door a few brief seconds before a tree hit their home and broke through the ceiling of his room.

“The house was shaking; you could hear glass breaking everywhere,” said Brandon. His father, James Carroll, 56, said “I got hit in the head with a piece of sheetrock that fell from the ceiling.”

The surging tornado blew various items against the front door. “It sounded like someone was trying to break in,” said Brandon.  Family members huddled together in the living room hallway where there were no windows and no broken glass.

When the storm passed, their home had sustained the most damage in the neighborhood. The family lost many of their possessions, including Brandon’s electronics, James’ lift recliner, and their refrigerator and freezer. Their car was also damaged.

A local church helped the family with lodging in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. The Red Cross also stepped in to provide hotel rooms and delivered meals; comfort kits containing personal care items; clean-up supplies; health and emotional support; and casework resources, including financial assistance.

The family shared that without the Red Cross, they “wouldn’t be coping so well,” and said they were “eternally grateful” for the help. As it turns out, the Carrolls have had more than their fair share of trouble. In addition to the recent tornado, the Red Cross has also helped them “weather” two floods and a house fire in the past!