Katelen Buckingham has lived in her Amory trailer with her 7-year-old daughter for most of her daughter’s life. They had weathered multiple storms there, and the trailer would always shake, but on Friday night, something told Katelen to get out of there.
“This time it felt different,” Buckingham said. “If we got stuck in there something bad could happen, so we just decided to leave the house and go to my grandma's house on the east side because she has a brick home.”
It was a decision that saved Katelen and her daughter’s life. By the time Katelen returned home Saturday morning, there was little left to show for what had been her home for several years.
"My daughter’s closet was literally wrapped around a tree as well as the bathroom,” Buckingham said. “My room was crushed in. Most everything was destroyed because it was covered in water and mud, every book I had was soaking wet but my bible had no water, no debris, nothing, it was fine.”
Katelen is working to figure out next steps now. She says what’s left of her home will likely be bulldozed and because she was renting, she’ll likely need to find a new place to live and will need to replace all their things.
“It’s amazing how a disaster like this can bring a community together,” Buckingham said. “Because there were neighbors around me that I had never really spoke with just saw them and waved, but they’ve come together to offer emotional and mental support so it’s just amazing. And all the volunteers such as the Red Cross that have been coming down to help, the outpouring help is just so unbelievable.”
You can help make a difference in the lives of people affected by tornadoes and storms in the South. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word TORNADO to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
You can help make a difference in the lives of people affected by tornadoes and storms in the South. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word TORNADO to 90999 to make a $10 donation.