By Staff
THANKFUL FAMILY Elizabeth Stewart, left, pets her parent's dog "Princess," while Shaun Addy holds the dog. Stewart's parents lost most of their belongings when their trailer on Long Creek Road was overturned Thursday by high winds. In the background is family friend, Derek Rowzee. Princess was left in the trailer when Lettie and John Sanders left to seek cover from the storm. Photo by Penny Randall/The Meridian Star
By Lynette Wilson / staff writer
Dec. 20, 2002
John Sanders' family broke the window of their rented trailer on Long Creek Road to retrieve insulin and heart medications Thursday in the aftermath of tornadic-like winds that lashed Lauderdale County.
Both Sanders and his wife, Lettie, are disabled heart patients, and both have diabetes.
The Sanders left their home at 1727 Long Creek Road for their daughter's home down the road when they heard the tornado warnings.
Severe weather caused damage to at least 16 homes in Southeast Lauderdale County on Long Creek, George Butler and Causeyville roads
Clarence Butler, director of the Lauderdale Emergency Management Agency and coordinator of the county's volunteer fire departments, said two homes and four mobile homes were destroyed and two other homes and eight more trailers were heavily damaged.
He said ground crews spotted a funnel cloud about 2:20 p.m. and tracked it south across Lauderdale County, but the National Weather Service as of Thursday evening had not officially declared the local storm a tornado.
Brad Bryant of the National Weather Service in Jackson said a survey team will be dispatched today to examine damage on the ground. Their findings will be paired with radar images from the time period to determine whether a tornado caused the damage in Lauderdale County.
District 5 supervisor Ray Boswell said the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors will meet today to start the process of having the area declared a disaster area.
For Sanders, who did not carry renters insurance on the home, and for their landlord, Norma Johnson, who did not insure the trailer, it's a total loss.
Elsewhere in the same part of the county, Jeff Carmichael's trailer at 1902 George Butler Road was taken off its blocks and moved 50 feet toward the road while he slept inside.
His niece, Pamela Anthony, said Carmichael was taken to Rush Foundation Hospital for treatment.
Ray Wilson was asleep in his home at 1774 George Butler Road when he heard heavy winds and trees coming down on his roof. Wilson works the night shift at Boeing.
The Wilsons planned to spend the night in their home despite the damage their carport was damaged, a backyard storage shed was blown to pieces and their 1996 camper was turned onto its side.