Tornado victim recalls panic in search for mom
Dozens of homes in Ringgold, Georgia, were ravaged by storms and tornadoes that barreled through the South this week.
April 28th, 2011
06:49 PM ET

Tornado victim recalls panic in search for mom

A tornado tore apart Reba Self's home in a matter of seconds. But, for a while, she thought she had lost much more than just a place to live.

It's an experience Self will never forget, and one that previously only existed in her nightmares.

"My dad kind of had me terrified of storms when I was a little girl, and I would get kind of nervous. But, I just thought go to the lower part of the house, it'll pass. I'm lucky to be here and so is my mom. I don't know how we lived through it, but we did."

She eventually found her mother, but her home in Ringgold, Georgia, was one of many in this small community on the Tennessee border ravaged by severe storms and tornadoes that barreled through the South this week.

Self's home was knocked off its foundation and a tree fell through the roof.

The storm seemed to pick and choose its victims. Some neighbors' homes were virtually unscathed. However, others have vanished into a pile of rubble, a mailbox the only other indication that just hours before, a house had stood there.

"You're either kin to somebody, or somebody knows you. It's a close-knit place," resident Jeff Conaway says.

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Filed under: Georgia • U.S. • Weather
soundoff (3 Responses)
  1. yasmin

    My OES sister is looking for her friend in tuscolusa,AL. His name is jeffery Artist.

    April 30, 2011 at 11:09 am | Report abuse |
  2. Sunshine Girl *

    All my sympathies go out to the victims of the storms. I can only imagine what these people must be feeling. I live in West Texas and we are burning down. But that is nothing compared to the devastation in the South. To the girl above..I hope you find your friend. @B lo me...I hope your ok. I know Tennessee suffered as well. Let me know your ok. /// I know yall Southern folks are strong. Good luck in your recovery.

    April 30, 2011 at 5:26 pm | Report abuse |
  3. cat a rack

    Its so sad everywhere! I'm 40 min from smithville ms 40 min from tuscaloosa al 40 min from Mathiston MS 50 min from hackelburg al and its just breath taking all the people around here that have lost everything from their loved ones, homes ,schools and some are still looking for their loved ones and what little of their belongings they can find. The only good thing is....in the south we take care of each other no one is a stranger we will pull ourselves together and get through this and after its all said and done we'll have more friends and love ones than we started with!!! Amen and God Bless all in need!

    May 1, 2011 at 9:44 am | Report abuse |
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