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Posted in Photo Essays Tagged: Life lessons, natural disasters, Parkersburg, Parkersburg Tornado, tornado
Everything I needed to know about life I learned from a Tornado: A Photo Essay
by Miss Britt on June 3, 2008
64 Comments so far
Trackbacks
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Shiny’s Takeout » Blog Archive » Life Goes On… June 3, 2008 8:46 am
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“All I Am Saying… Is Give Peace A Chance” (Lennon) « It’s My Mid-life Crisis June 4, 2008 2:56 pm
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Chickens and Rainbows (aka Hi, Mom! I’m alive!) « My Own Little World June 10, 2008 11:44 am
Didn’t you also learn that you can blend in with the survivors without even trying that hard? :lmao:
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wow. just wow.
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Wow Britt.
Love the last photo for several reasons. The saying “When you have your family, you have everything” It holds true to your photos, especially the last one.
I was watching the teller camera from the bank in Parkersburg tonight that captured the tornado tearing into the building and holy.shit.
That’s all I got to say about that.
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Wow.
Seems like there should be a donation link for the local Red Cross chapter here or something. If there were one thing guaranteed to get people moving to help, this post would do it.
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There’s nothing like a baby to cure the blues. Seriously, for me, I can’t be around babies for very long without a great big grin on my face. Babies are natural antidepressants.
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LOVE IT! Sending to all the Iowans I know!
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You need to quit your job and become a photojournalist. This post is just beautiful.
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thanks for sharing that. simply beautiful.
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…and nails are pointy. Where is that one?
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I have goosebumps. That was beautiful.
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Love It … :clap:
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Speechless and
Bravo Britt – incredible pictures! :clap:
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The woman … on her knee … hugging the child, and looking up.
Awesome. simply AWEsome.
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:love: This captured emotion so much more than thousands of words could.
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Your last picture caught me in my throat. It was beautiful and the message sent is what really mattered.
“The Best Things in Life, aren’t Things.”
~ZZ
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Great pictures, great captions…awesome sentiments.
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I am so emotional lately, but the last picture… the joy despite the chaos and tragedy? That one got me.
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Great pictures.
Awesome sentiments.
Priceless lessons.
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WOW! I love this post. I know all the people in your photos and because of that it makes it all so surreal!
Love you!
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These photos… they’re amazing.
Home is not a place, it’s a person (or people).
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Awesome way to bring it home. It’s hard not to “get it” when you can see it so clearly.
Hallie
http://wonderfulworldofweiners.blogspot.com/
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Beautiful.
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I love this photo essay. Thank you for sharing.
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avitable: quit giving away my future posts!
Mrs. Fussypants: yep, that’s pretty much how it feels. Just… wow.
Krystle: I haven’t seen that video. Is it on the Internet somewhere??
AmyD: hm, asking for donations here never occurred to me.
Karl: you are so, so right. The FIRST thing I got to do when I got into town is hold my niece and nephew. The baby pictured here is the one that was sent to the hospital Sunday night and seeing her… overwhelming.
Jules: do you know a lot of Iowans? Should I be scared? LOL
Mary: Ha! They’d probably expect me to use a real camera though. But thank you. :blush:
suze: you’re welcome – thanks for watching.
bluepaintred: that one is on flickr. Heh. And *I* already knew that.
Jared should get his own damn blog.
Ms. Karen: I have to admit, the last two give me goosebumps too.
CharlieDaniels: thank you!
Penelope: well, pretty good Photoshopping anyway.
Zom: that is my mom and my son.
Dee: oh crap. Let’s not get rid of words just yet…
Greeneyezz: yeah, it gets me too. Especially knowing them like I do. That is my husband’s best friend. He’s been like a brother to me for damn near 15 years.
Oh shit, now *I* am going to cry.
Mr. Fabulous: thanks babe.
ADW: me too. And I’m still hugging you from here, k? :hug:
NYCWD: yeah, they really are. A small part of me is actually grateful to have a chance to learn those things.
Especially the part about fear.
Kristin: love you too babe. Doesn’t Justin look so stinking proud!??!
Marissa: you’re absolutely right.
Hallie: I hope that’s true. I hope in some way people are able to get something out of this without having to go through it themselves.
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jennifer: which is kind of weird, isn’t it?
student teacher: no problem, I’m a sharer.
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One thing I have learned is that as long as you and your family are ok, things don’t matter so much. And by things, I mean your stuff, your TV, living room set, the video game you just had to have, the specially ordered microwave. None of that matters if you have no one left to hug.
(watch the next round of Mn storms strike my house!!)
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wow,all of it seems so overwhelming yet so put together…
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The video was on the news last night, but is on CNN.com now, under the title “Windows implode as tornado hits bank”
Seeing all the photos of all the tornados and tragedies in the world, (China, etc) is so overwhelming, and somehow unreal. Although I know of you only through DeannaBanana, our daughter, it makes it very real. Sending prayers from here in Canada.
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This is by far the best photo essay you’ve done because it conveys so much with so little words. The last picture is beautiful and perfect.
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Great photos!! Love the one of your mom and son!!! You guys are really awesome! Do you happen to know any of the Eckhoffs? (sp?)
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I’m in tears. It makes my whining seem irrelevant when I see those pictures…and that’s exactly what I’m doing…whining.
Thanks for opening your heart and sharing such a tragic event with us. One that will take a very long time to heal…let us not forget about that because we promised to be there a week, a month and a year from now to help.
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The hospital photo looks like something you’d see from the Associated Press. Well seen and well captured, darlin’.
I was going to put up the link to the local Red Cross chapter, but I checked the site and they are not actively taking donations for tornado relief because they feel they have it COVERED. Apparently there was a flood of donations.
But if any of us can contribute clothing or anything, please let us know.
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Very weird, indeed; but also a reminder that without pain we wouldn’t know pleasure in the same way, without fear we couldn’t fully appreciate love, without grief joy’s intensity greatly diminished. Not to minimize the tragedy in any way, but you’ve done a remarkable job of capturing the essential contrasts that characterize being truly alive.
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Great pics. The last shows true human spirit.
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The picture of your mom says so much. Also, in the last picture, I would say they didn’t really lose everything since they still have each other. Things are replaceable. People aren’t.
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oh, britt, all very powerful photos, but the last two – just reach right in and grab the heart, you know? thank you for this -
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My favorite is your mother and son. You’re right no words. Beautiful post. I shed tears. Damnit woman you are always making me cry, in a good way though.
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You got some really lovely pictures, Britt. They really are worth a thousand words. I’m glad you got to go be with your people, and I hope that you can find peace soon. You’re awesome.
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Terrible tragedy.
Wondeful post.
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driving towards home in the driving rain, trying desperately to cross the river that was a street that morning…just trying to get home to my dogs, to get them out of the way of the ever rising water. i couldn’t get across the rushing water. my aunt was able to get to them from another direction, i met her at her house. as soon as i saw those two furry boys i burst into sobs. wrapping my arms around them both, feeling their safety was overwhelming. losing everything was somehow ok because my pups were safe. and they are just dogs. i can only imagine how wonderful it was for your family to see each other, to hold each other, to be in each other’s presence. i am so thankful that your family is safe. they are strong and will rebuild somewhere. together.
:heartbeat:
p.s. i really love your photo essays. keep up the terrific work getting the word out, even if the word is a photo.
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Fuck.
Why’d you have to go and make me [gulp] get that dang lump in my throat.
(Oh who am I kidding? I lost it at the woman and little boy in the hallway.)
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Thank you for share these with us.
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:heartbeat:
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I want to swear at you for making me cry. Shit…
:heartbeat:
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ya know, this post really fucked me up. the comments show up in my gmail account and i keep wanting to forwars such a powerful picture post to my mom.
mom died over two years ago.
but i really want her to see this post.
see? told you. fucked up.
sigh.
:heartbeat:
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wow. devastation and redemption.
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Love this. Great pictures.
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Again… girl… *choke*
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themuttprincess: “None of that matters if you have no one left to hug.”
You are so, so right. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve hugged my kids since we’ve been home. And I have yet to hear “Mooooooommmm, get OFF me!”
misi: well I don’t know about put together. LOL
Momma: went and watched it. Why!?! WHY did I do that?!?! That is terrifying.
Hilly: I don’t know. I think the one where I died Jared’s hair said a LOT.
Trishk: we are not really awesome. I assure you. We are just very, very normal. And dysfunctional as all hell. LOL
Lisa: you are NOT whining! Stop saying that!
Sweetheart, like I’ve told you a hundred times – what you are fighting for IS the things that matter. You and those baby girls and the chance to hold on to them as long as you possibly can.
This pain does not in the LEAST take away from your right to be angry and fight.
Finn: yeah, I think it was on Day 4 that they said they had all the money they needed for this particular disaster.
Don’t even get me started on that…
jennifer: that’s very, very true.
A Whole Lot of Nothing: thank you. I’m glad I’m not the only one who saw that. My pictures usually suck. LOL
Lynda: yep, and it was so amazing to be around them. I’m so lucky and proud to know them.
Rayne: thanks for sharing it with me. Really.
Mindy: no crying tomorrow. I promise.
Tracy: I was going to say something all brave and shit like “the peace is coming, blah blah blah”. But I’m just going to agree with you.
B.E. Earl: you know, it could have been a lot worse. And I don’t say that lightly. At all.
hello haha narf: I am really, really glad we got to be together. For all of our sake.
And I’m glad you have your puppies too.
Undomestic Diva: I’m really not trying to make people cry! Promise! Tomorrow will be funny!
Dragon: I’m just glad I have people to share it with. Really. It helps to be able to get it out of my head and out into the world somehow.
metalmom: :hug:
Colin Brooks: please use the word Fuck when you do.
hello haha narf: oh honey, I am so, so sorry. I will hug the crap out of you for real in two weeks when I see you.
Crys: yeah, we’re lucky for the redemption part, huh?
Captain Steve: thank you.
DutchBitch: tomorrow you will laugh. I promise.
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Awesome photos. Especially the ending shot.
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No worries Hon. The choking up is more about the beautiful way (if that is at all appropriate to say that in this respect) you voice your emotions and the things that happened.
We don’t experience tornados and stuff like that here in Dutchyland and you are very good in voicing what it must be like to have that happen to you…
So… that’s why…
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Those are great photos.
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It took me a bit to find it as it was played on our local news station, however here it is on YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2WIOqa8_Qs&feature=user
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Those pictures remind me of Hurricane Katrina. We survived it and luckily only had minor damage but some people lost everything like your friends did. You just get stronger and try to recover your life and move on. It’s very hard but you appreciate what you have a little bit more.
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People are amazing!! I can’t even find the words…
Even seeing the photos of the devastation…it’s so hard to believe. I can’t even begin to imagine what everyone must be feeling.
But that final photo…beautiful!! And people really are amazing!!
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Stunning images, Britt. Great photo essay.
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Oh, Britt. This is just…
thanks for getting me all teary. Off to hug my kiddos.
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Beautiful post – amazing how much they still have.
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That photo of you with your friend makes you look so happy. It’s awesome.
Also, Dad and Baby… :heartbeat:
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I am overwhelmed, not just by the images but by your ability to get to the heart of the matter. That baby is just – …..words aren’t enough.
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You, and the people in that town, and people everywhere who live and persevere in tragedies or catastrophies everywhere, ROCK. Thanks for your post and poignant pictures!! :rock:
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The photo of your mom and son made me cry. There is just so much emotion in her face. Also, I heard on the radio (in Maryland) that Iowa residents were trying to get the Parkersburg High School rebuilt by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
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It’s only been a little less than 2 months since the tornado here, which was bad, but the devastation left behind by that one looks 10 times worse. It makes my heart hurt to know that so many people are homeless because of something that probably lasted no more than a few minutes. We spend our lives amassing things, and they can be gone in a flash. But you captured what’s truly important, and you did it so beautifully.
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martymankins: I love that picture. Even if it was taken on a cell phone camera and shows in the quality.
DutchBitch: is Dutchyland natural disaster free?
I have been looking for just such a place you know…
Maman: thank you very much.
Krystle: I can’t get over the fact that my town is on YouTube. Too bad it’s for this.
Tiffany: my friends at least all have insurance. There were a lot of people not nearly as lucky.
Tonz: yeah, they really are.
Coast Rat: awww, thanks.
maggie, dammit: hug them tight and once for me.
Fantastagirl: and thank you – again. A million times thank you. And Mr. Fantastic too, OK?
Poppy: that friend is going to be here in one week too!! YAY!!!
Selma: babies make it easy to get to the heart of all matters I think.
Sybil Law: people are really capable of a lot more than we think.
noraisins: really?? I hadn’t heard that. That would be amazing.
Tense Teacher: I’ve heard it took 55 seconds.
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