Published: May 12, 2008 11:09 pm            

Carter County storm declared a tornado

Grahn — A spring storm turned into something far more violent Sunday morning as it rampaged through the Grahn community in Carter County, leaving at least one family homeless and many in the area with no electricity or other utilities for days to come.

“There are still a lot of poles down there this morning,” said Carter County Judge-Executive Charles Wallace on Monday after a survey of the situation, alongside National Weather Service officials.

Most of the damage of what turned out to be a tornado was limited to Goosecreek and Baker Hill portions of Grahn, with numerous trees and utility poles downed and reports of eight to 10 homes, as well as a barn, with storm-related problems.

After visiting the remnants of the Grahn home where Nick and Ann Leadingham rode the storm out in a closet with their children, Wallace said, “I don’t know how they survived.”

Grahn School Community Center Director Starlene Harris said she was in church at Olive Hill when the storm hit and was shocked by what she saw on the way home.

“The road was blocked and traffic was backed up. I thought there had been a wreck,” Harris said Monday as a cafeteria of utility workers and tree service crews enjoyed a hot meal at the community center Monday. “It was pretty scary there for a while. They got us through and they were pushing trees out of the way as we went along. It looked like a war zone.”

Based on what she has seen, Harris said she believes it was a tornado that struck the community.

“There are lots of twisted trees,” she said, comparing this storm to a nearby weather incident roughly a year ago. “It is amazing no one got hurt. The Lord was watching and was with us.”

Harris said she was humbled while helping members of the Leadingham family, whose roof was torn off of their mobile home while they were sheltered inside.

“They hid in a closet. She said they just grabbed the kids and you just go on instinct,” Harris said, noting the family repeatedly expressed appreciation for the help received soon after the worst of the storm had passed.

“Just looking in their eyes you could see they just lost everything. Outwardly you could see they were fine, but you could look in their eyes and see they were hurt.”

The Leadinghams were provided emergency food and clothing, Harris reported, and directed to shelter at a nearby inn after meeting with local Red Cross officials.

Harris said neighbors in Grahn immediately rallied to help those who needed assistance, with several going to their own kitchens to make food. She said she heard about a family with no electrical service that set up a generator to provide power to critical medical equipment for a family member with health problems.

The judge-executive said he was highly impressed with the response of the community, area firefighters and emergency responders as well as highway and utility crews.

“We can sure take our hats off to the emergency service,” he said, noting state and county highway workers cleared roads and allowed emergency workers quick access to hardest hit areas.

“All that training and those mock drills paid off. I feel that was money well spent by the fiscal court for these fire departments.”

NWS meteorologist Nick Webb visited the area and confirmed it was a tornado, which was part of a system 1.2 miles long and 75 yards to 100 yards wide, with winds of speeds up to 100 mph.

It remained uncertain if the scene was damaged to the point county officials would be able to declare a disaster or to seek federal relief funding.

Several in the Grahn area said the aftermath of the Sunday storm reminded them of the days after a crippling ice storm struck there in 2003. The community center will remain open to provide food, shelter, clothing and showers to local residents as well as tree and utility workers, Harris said.

Grahn Volunteer Fire Department Chief Lonnie Sturgill thanked responding volunteers from Grahn, Olive Hill, Carter City, Norton-Branch, Hitchins and Grayson fire departments, as well as members of the Carter County Tactical Search and Rescue, Carter County EMS and Boyd County Emergency Management chain saw crew, along with state and county employees.

Members of fire departments from communities including Hitchins, Carter City, Norton Branch and Webbville also reported for duty, as well as law enforcement officers and emergency management agents from throughout the region.

Grahn’s fire chief worked with Olive Hill Fire Chief Wes Gilliam and Carter County Emergency Management Director Tom Thompson to establish a “unified command” to coordinate emergency workers after the storm.

Including Red Cross workers and American Electric Power employees, at least 20 agencies with nearly 100 representatives responded to the incident with resources and manpower, officials said.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.

        

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