TORNADO ANNIVERSARY Ky. Town Marks One Year Since Destructive Tornado
Reported by: Dan Matics
Web Producer: Heath Harrison
Reported: Mar. 2, 2013 6:34 PM EST
Updated: Mar. 2, 2013 6:59 PM EST
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
West Liberty, Morgan County
, Kentucky
Saturday marks exactly one year since a series of deadly and destructive tornadoes ripped through our area.
One of the biggest tornadoes hit a small Kentucky town particularly hard.
Ask anyone in West Liberty, and they will tell you exactly where they were one year ago when an EF3 tornado left this town in ruins.
Now the difference, like night and day, can be seen as the town continues to rebuild.
Tanna Crouch, was inside her tanning and nail salon when it was destroyed. She and her husband took shelter underneath a desk as walls came crashing down.
"We started feeling air, then we knew the roof gave in," Croch said. “I was praying."
Their business is now back up and running, and they're not the only ones.
The tornado nearly destroyed a funeral home ripping off the roof, but leaving everything inside intact.
"We had a casket going to have a funeral the next day,” Jimmy Cantrell said. “Didn't touch it."
One year later, a new chapel has been built. It's expected to open in a couple of weeks.
And as the rebuilding continues, some have even taken advantage, bringing new businesses to town.
Julie Lane just opened a flower shop.
“It’s just really impressive to see all the progress," Lane said.
As businesses open and lives continue to rebuild, those who live in this small community say perhaps the greatest progress has been seen in the people.
The town is having a special ceremony Saturday night to mark the one-year anniversary.
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Dan Matics
