By Joe Zydlo

A phone emergency alert going off in the 3 a.m. hour was the first signal that awoke Jeff Riddle on Wednesday, April 5 while he was asleep in his mobile home.

“I walked out into my living room and turned on the news. They (the newscaster) said there was a storm that was further down Hwy 34 in Grassy (Mo.). About five minutes later, the electric went out and then five minutes after that I heard a loud noise. I mean, REALLY LOUD.”

The ‘loud noise’ was a tornado estimated to be between an EF-2 and an EF-3. With winds of up to 130 mph, the tornado was tearing through the area and it was heading towards Jeff in Glenallen.

“Before I knew it, my roof had been taken off and one of the walls had fallen on top of me. I just stayed under it until it stopped. I got lucky. Not a scratch on me. When that wall came down, I thought I was dead. If I wasn’t underneath that wall I probably would have been gone.”

When the storm had passed, Jeff got up and the area in Glenallen was in total darkness. His home was ripped wide open, and he could see other damage across the road. Trees and power lines were down everywhere. The first thing he thought of were his parents, who lived just down the road from him.

“When I got up and started walking around, I went to check on my parents. I could still hear loud whistling. There were power lines down and trees, so many in the way. I did not have a flashlight. I was afraid I might get electrocuted.”

On April 12 and 13 a MARC or Multi-Agency Resource Center opened at the Bollinger County Health Department. A MARC is a one-stop shop event where the Red Cross and several local and state agencies gather together to provide resources for people affected by the recent tornado.

Jeff received help from the various agencies including the Red Cross.

“I got some help from the Red Cross. Any help is good, and I appreciate it. I was not expecting anything like this (help). I did not have insurance so this will help.”

After this tragic event, Jeff said the community has really supported each other.

“Everybody has come together to help each other. I got really lucky. I thought it was over for me.”