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Despite tragedy, Washington residents finding reasons to give thanks

Posted November 28, 2013 4:30 am

Daily Herald report

Ben Alexander, who lost his home to the F4 tornado that struck downstate Washington Nov. 16, recalls where the family huddled together in the basement during the disaster. People always say that it sounds like a train, but it gets louder like a jet engine. he said. The family thought they lost their cat Jasmine in the storm, but found her two days after cleanup efforts began. She also was hiding in the basement. photos by Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

Watching him as he stood amid the rubble that used to be his neighborhood in downstate Washington over the weekend, it was hard to imagine that Ben Alexander would have much to give thanks for today as he and the thousands of others left homeless by a Nov. 16 tornado sit down for Thanksgiving dinner.

But amid the ruin and devastation of the past 12 days, Alexander and others in the resilient community are finding reason to be grateful, and even hopeful.

For Alexander, it was the appearance of former co-workers he hasn’t seen in a decade stopping by his flattened neighborhood offering to help. For Mary Lee, it was her home and businesses surviving the storm so she could offer both to assist those in need.

For the Rev. Tom Heren, it was the tornado narrowly avoiding his church, saving the lives of 75 congregation members within and allowing it to serve as a “beacon” for the devastated community it serves.

And for all of Washington, it was a reminder that oftentimes it takes the worst of circumstances to bring out the best in one another.

“I’m thankful to be alive, number one. I’m just amazed about the community in Washington. The Washington community is just fantastic. So many people offered to help.”

— Ben Alexander

“Most of all now we are thankful we can be a hub for the community. It’s an opportunity for us to be a beacon in this damaged neighborhood that we happen to be in.”

— the Rev. Tom Heren

“We are so blessed to still have our family, our home and our business, and to be here to help out those that aren’t so fortunate.”

— Mary Lee

“I’m so thankful for all these people that helped us. We’ve had so many people help us in so many ways.”

— Karen Reynolds

Self-proclaimed weather hobbyist Karen Reynolds, who lost her house to the F4 tornado that struck Washington, Ill., on Nov. 16, says both she and her husband retreated into their spider-hole storm safe area in the basement as the storm ripped through. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

Washington, Ill., resident Mary Lee said her home and businesses were spared by the Nov. 16 tornado that devastated parts of her hometown, allowing her to open up both to members of her community in need. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

The Rev. Tom Heren of Our Savior Lutheran Church in downstate Washington said the F4 tornado that swept through the community narrowly avoided his church and the 75 members inside it for services Nov. 16, allowing it now to serve as a beacon for those impacted by the storm and the volunteers whove come to help. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

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