Surviving an F-4: How a family survived as a tornado
ripped apart their home around them
14/04/09 16:28
One of the best parts of my job is meeting so many
people with such amazing stories.
35 years ago, an F-4 tornado destroyed most of downtown Monticello, Indiana. Gary and Vickie Leonard were starting their life together. It was 1974. Vickie was at home with her two year old Monica, when the F-4 twister screamed across their neighborhood, literally breaking apart their house around them as they hid in the hallway. Monica was lifted away from the house and found alive in a nearby ditch.
The tornado went on to hit the local high school, courthouse, and much of Monticello's downtown - forever changing the city's landscape.
In my report on the Leonards I did something that is very often quite tough to do. When you listen to the piece you will not hear my voice or my narration like reporters often do. The Leonards tell their story too well for me to interject.
This piece is THEIR story. I hope you will be touched by their amazing experience as I was.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE LEONARDS TELL THE STORY IN THEIR OWN WORDS
35 years ago, an F-4 tornado destroyed most of downtown Monticello, Indiana. Gary and Vickie Leonard were starting their life together. It was 1974. Vickie was at home with her two year old Monica, when the F-4 twister screamed across their neighborhood, literally breaking apart their house around them as they hid in the hallway. Monica was lifted away from the house and found alive in a nearby ditch.
The tornado went on to hit the local high school, courthouse, and much of Monticello's downtown - forever changing the city's landscape.
In my report on the Leonards I did something that is very often quite tough to do. When you listen to the piece you will not hear my voice or my narration like reporters often do. The Leonards tell their story too well for me to interject.
This piece is THEIR story. I hope you will be touched by their amazing experience as I was.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE LEONARDS TELL THE STORY IN THEIR OWN WORDS