The Tornado of December 2021
-Cypress Staff
Photos by Katijane Shoffner, Amy Sanders
The scent of pine may never quite mean the same thing to me, ever again. The Cypress team rode through the remnants of Samburg yesterday. We couldn’t get into Reelfoot, someone was still missing at that point and is still missing today. The big pine trees to the north of town lay broken and twisted as though some giant had crumpled them into tiny pieces with jagged stumps remaining. Dresden is just as bad, streets and homes laid bare to the elements, buildings tossed by the same giant’s hand. We have not yet been to Newbern or Kenton. It’s almost too much to take in.
West Tennessee was dealt a staggering blow, as was Kentucky and Eastern Arkansas. The tornado that ripped through Reelfoot and Samburg stayed on the ground well over 200 miles and may prove to be the longest ‘on the ground’ tornado, ever. We were in the Jackson tornado in 2003, but it jumped over our home. This one seemed to be even more devastating, even though it is preliminarily rated as an EF3, not an EF4 as Jackson was. Perhaps it is the length of the storm, perhaps it is just more fresh in our minds. The National Weather Service in Memphis is still studying the storm and will be for a bit, so it is possible the EF rating may change. Dresden and Newbern, along with other places near that were also on the receiving end of an EF3, doing tremendous damage to both areas, and other towns in a path between Truman, AR, and the northeast corner of West Tennessee.
We took photos of the work being done, the donations that are pouring in, and the American Flag still flying in the breeze. Sweet Jordan’s answered the call, bringing food and drinks in their Food Truck. They were in Samburg when we saw them, but they had been in Dresden the day before. It brought to mind, ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’ and they were answering that mission.
"We're reminded that in just a moment, lives are lost, livelihoods are lost, and lives are changed forever," Governor Bill Lee said. "We had an immediate response from law enforcement and first responders across the state. There is a great deal of hope amid real devastation."
People in our area were hurt, lost, and homes were ravaged so very close to Christmas. Our publisher was like everyone else, wanting to do something, anything, and late in the evening was inspired—Cypress was given the idea to bring a little JOY back into the hearts of the people in the broken areas. Because we had challenged everyone to make cookies from the magazine in our publisher’s note to bring a little joy into people's lives, we asked, why not go a little further? So, we are! We are taking wrapped presents to them this week. If they can’t use what’s inside, they can give a gift to someone else—and perhaps get a little bit of the joy of Christmas back in their heart.
If you would like to participate, please bring a wrapped gift with no label on it to either First Baptist Church in Covington, the South Tipton Chamber office, or our office in Covington at 114 West Liberty Avenue inside the Historic Hotel Lindo building. We are also working with the Paris-Henry County Chamber, so you may drop items there as well. Other locations to drop may be added, so please call before you make a long trek!
If you would like to help with physical needs, the most pressing are dry shampoo, toilet paper, blankets, feminine products, and diapers. If you have questions, please contact our office at 901-617-2908.