> SOUTHERN INDIANA — Louisville National Weather Service staff members were on alert as they warned residents of Southern Indiana and Northern Kentucky to take cover. Mike Callahan, a Jeffersonville resident and Hydrologist for the NWS, was at work the day tornadoes wiped out entire communities in Southern Indiana.

Earlier in the day, the NWS computer models revealed a supercell thunderstorm was brewing and headed for Pekin. Callahan’s wife, Rosy, was working at the elementary school there.

“A sinking feeling developed in me when I saw where the supercell was headed,” Mike Callahan said.

Rosy called Mike and described multiple funnels in the area; however, the tornado’s path avoided her school.

Still, throughout the day, Callahan couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness.

“We issued tornado emergency warnings for towns along the path of destruction, but we suspected there would be lives lost as it went through populated areas,” he said.

While NWS employees saw the tornado moving quickly, those directly affected said the seconds of destruction seemed like hours. Soon after the sky cleared, footage of the massive destruction to the small Indiana towns of Pekin, Henryville, Marysville, Chelsea and others was on the Internet and television. People from California to New York saw the destruction of entire communities and listened as the numbers of lives lost escalated.

In all, the brutal tornado took at least 15 lives in Southern Indiana and many more were injured. Hundreds of homes and businesses were demolished.



IT HIT HOME

The Gilles Family from Henryville took a direct hit by the tornado, which destroyed their entire home. Darrell, Trish and their three children, Caleb, 11, Collin, 10, and Mia, 8, were inside the home as it was ripped from the foundation and thrown at least 300 yards. Their home is nothing more than sticks and rubble now. Still, Darrell Gilles is quick to say, “We are the lucky ones — we miraculously survived.”

Priorities come instinctively when dealing with tragic situations. When Darrell saw the tornado heading toward his family, he rushed them into a hall closet. Darrell and Trish threw blankets and pillows over their children, tightly wrapped their arms around them and prayed.

In the brief seconds before the house exploded, Trish disclosed what she feared were her last words.

“I told my babies they would soon hear loud noises, everything could go dark, they may have to let go of Mommy’s hands for a bit, but they would be OK.”

The children then heard their mother make this promise, “God will keep you safe.” Trish took a deep breath and prayed with all of her heart for the safety of the frightened children huddled beneath her.

Trish wasn’t alone in the prayers. As the winds began to tear apart their home, each member of the family was anxiously repeating a different prayer. She recalls that Caleb was praying for the safety of other members of the family, while Darrell was desperately repeating, “Please Jesus.”

After the winds stopped, Darrell opened his eyes and immediately felt intense pain. He saw Trish and called out to her. She responded, but couldn’t move. He then looked across the rubble and saw each of his children, lying face down into the ground — motionless. Despite serious injuries, he pulled himself up and began calling their names. One by one, they started to move.

The family miraculously survived the horrifying ordeal. Still, Mother Nature gave the family no relief. Darrell could see a second tornado and knew he had to move his family to safety. He couldn’t move Trish; therefore, he started walking the children toward a neighbor’s home. Nearly there, softball sized hail began brutally pelting the family.



HELP AND RECOVERY

Dale Dody was driving by to check on his son’s family when he saw Darrell and stopped to help. As Darrell continued to rush the children from the storm, he pointed Dale toward Trish. Just as cement-like chunks began to plummet from the sky, Dale ran to Trish and held part of a door over her body, leaving himself exposed to the violent downpour.

Many of the injuries sustained by the children appear to have occurred from the hail, including several breaks in Caleb’s back. Collin, who put on his baseball batting helmet prior to the tornado, was the first released from the hospital with a twisted ankle. Eight year old Mia was the next to be discharged, after treatment for a lacerated liver, head injury and resulting seizure. When Mia got to Trish’s bedside, her words were simple and direct: “Momma, we survived!” Caleb has been released and is wearing a back brace.

Although released from the hospital, Darrell has not left his wife’s bedside. While the children are with family, Trish and Darrell are dealing with their injuries. Darrell’s sternum, along with every rib in his body was broken, along with a punctured lung and broken jaw. He had surgery on his jaw.

Trish’s injuries were the most severe, including a punctured lung, several broken ribs, a broken pelvis and broken vertebrae. She has already endured two surgeries and has a long road of physical therapy ahead.

They know and understand the miracle of their survival and are grateful. Trish explained, “We wouldn’t be here without God and if anyone doubts, they should know he is alive and working miracles.” She continued, “My prayers were met and exceeded — not only were my babies saved; our entire family survived.”

Trish hesitated while searching for words to thank all who have showered them with kindness. She took a deep breath and said, “God has given us a hopeful spirit and we are so grateful.”

While Darrell and Trish know their journey will not be easy, they realize in time they will recover from the painful wounds and memories the storm hurled upon them one dark day in March.

In Henryville, a town of 2,000 residents, very few structures remain. The community is working to clear property, some schools are back in session, wounds are healing, and lives are being pulled back together.

Callahan summed up his emotions after the storm, “These storms produced the worst damage that I have seen in my 33 years of working for the NWS and I truly hope that I will never see anything similar.”

He and Darrell Gilles do not know one another, but without a doubt they have much in common.