When a Neighbor is More Than Just the Person Who Lives Down the Road

Last week a group of six tornadoes went through my neighborhood.  Luckily for my family and I, the tornadoes were not on the ground as they went over our house, but for some of our neighbors, they weren't as fortunate.

A picture that I took of one of the tornadoes that went by our home
(Don't worry, right after I took the photo I took everyone to the
basement for shelter for the duration of the storms)

Right after the storm had passed through, My Farmer hopped into his pick-up to check on his parents, our hogs and our new house to make sure everyone and everything was alright.  But as he was making his way to check on everything, he noticed trees across the road at our neighbors.  He drove over to find destruction everywhere.  He talked to the family to make sure they were okay and then looked around to see how he could help.  The night of the storm, My Farmer, along with other neighbors who made similar trips after the storm to check on things, all merged on our neighbor's place and got to work.  First thing that night was to board up the home.  Second thing done, plans were made for people to take time away from the fields the next day to help with clean-up.

A view of some of the damage the day after the tornadoes.
Our neighbors had trees uprooted, out buildings destroyed,
windows shattered and personal belonging thrown around the entire farm.

Neighbors brought over equipment to help with the clean-up

I couldn't help with the actual clean-up with two kids age two and under
but I could help with lunch for the work crew!
And the best part of helping with lunch, I had friends give me food
to help with lunch after they had heard what happened

Last week I was so proud of my community.  None of these people were asked, paid or told to come and help these neighbors in need.  Work and help was needed and everyone felt it was their job to come and work and help.  

Last week's events made me think of another time that my community came together to help a neighbor in need.  In 2011 one of our neighbors passed away in a car accident.  When it came time for his fields to be harvested, farmers from the entire neighborhood took a day off of harvesting their own fields to help this family in need.

Combine and catch carts at work in a field

Three combines working on the same field

A line-up of the combines and tractors used to help with the harvest

Neighbors that came to help a neighbor

Once again, why did these neighbors come together to help another neighbor in need?  Call it "Midwest Values" or being an Iowan, but everyone wanted to be there to help.  There was work that needed to be done and no one was just going to wait for someone or some government group to come and do the work.

I am so proud of my neighborhood and community.  We are always there for each other.  We truly care about each other and show concern for one another.  I realize that everyone in this world is not as fortunate as I am to have this sense of community or neighbors.  Some only get this feeling of support from family.  So I guess you could say I have two families - my biological relatives and my neighbors.  (And you know you are from the rural Midwest when you consider a person who lives many miles away still a neighbor...)

What makes you proud of your community or neighborhood?

Schools and Tornado Safety

I have lived in Iowa my entire life so I'm no stranger to tornadoes.  After the tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma yesterday, including destroying two elementary schools, I can't help but think of tornado safety in schools.  Just like in Oklahoma, the same goes for Iowa, the tornado shelters include restrooms, locker rooms and hallways.  If you live in tornado alley, you know that the safest place to be is underground.  Luckily in Iowa, most people have basements under their houses.  It does not sound that very many people in this part of Oklahoma yesterday had underground shelters or basements.

An aerial photo of Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma
taken before yesterday's tornado
(photo from NY Daily News) 

An aerial photo of Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma
taken after yesterday's tornado
(photo from NY Daily News) 

So if we know the safest place to be is underground when a tornado is approaching, why don't we have underground shelters for our children in our schools to go to?  I can't help but think of a tornado that hit around this time five years ago in Parkersburg, Iowa.  It happened on Graduation Sunday, as many people were coming home from graduation parties.  Luckily, this tornado didn't hit while school was in session.  Before the tornado, Aplington-Parkersburg High School had similar tornado shelters in it's school just like in Moore, Oklahoma - hallways, bathrooms, etc.  After the tornado, Aplington-Parkersburg High School had to rebuild and with that rebuild they built a concrete re-enforced underground wrestling room that doubles as a storm shelter, with enough room to house the student body twice over.  I think this is something every school should consider not only for it's students, but for it's community.  I think about how bonds are passed for a new gym or a new auditorium or a new football field, why not pass a bond for a storm shelter?

My heart breaks for those in Moore, Oklahoma and other places that have been devastated the last couple of days.  During the aftermath of these tornadoes, I hope schools and communities throughout tornado alley think about what should be done for safety.