By: Carl Manning, American Red Cross

As Marjorie Guthrie told her story of being caught in the tornado that struck Wynne, AR, her eyes filled with tears, and she paused and apologized for becoming emotional.

Assured by the listener there was nothing wrong with being upset, Marjorie continued with her story. As the tornado approached, she and her three dachshunds sought shelter in the safest place she could find in her house, the bathtub.

“My arms and legs were wrapped around them, and I was absolutely terrified. It’s really hard to talk about it,” Marjorie said. “They’re all fine, they just went through a little bit of stress.”

She’s among dozens of Wynne residents who stopped by the Red Cross Recovery Center for individuals whose homes were impacted by the tornado. Similar centers also are open Little Rock, North Little Rock, Jacksonville and Sherwood, all also hit by the tornado.

Marjorie said that despite her ordeal, she’s not complaining.

“We’re alive and well and thankful that the Good Lord spared us,” she said. “The Red Cross has helped and we’re glad for it.”

Marjorie said she moved to Wynne a couple of months ago from Baton Rouge, LA, adding with a smile, “Looks like I traded hurricanes for tornadoes.”

Nearby in the center, Kristy Ray, with her 3-year-old son Santana, was talking to another volunteer about getting some medications replaced and what other services the Red Cross was offering.

The volunteer offered Santana a stuffed toy, but he preferred playing computer games on his smartphone while Kristy and the volunteer talked. She left with a smile, thanking the volunteer for his help.

For the volunteers working at the recovery center, their goal to help those in need and offer comfort and compassion.

“I’m glad to be here to help them get through this. When you lose everything, every little bit helps,” said Red Cross volunteer Jim Bain.

Also at the recovery center, Michael and Nina Dixon explained to caseworkers that as the tornado approached, they fled their mobile home for the more secure home of his daughter and her family. They arrived just minutes ahead of the storm.

“It was scary. The windows started exploding and all seven of us jammed into a closet and we all started praying,” Michael said.

After the storm passed, the family went outside and saw and the extent of damage with houses in various stages of destruction. They found that a neighbor was trapped in the rubble of her home and realized they had to help her.

Michael and others dug through the rubble and found her injured but alive. Because the streets were impassable, they decided to place her on a detached door and then carried her several blocks to waiting paramedics. He later learned that the woman was expected to make a full recovery.

“It was the best feeling to hear that,” Michael said. “Thank God she’s doing good.”