jsu march 19 tornado | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post

This Is How A Tornado Changed My Life Forever

The sky was unsettling peaceful that day. It didn't rain it was just dark and cloudy.

15
Thunderstorm

March 19 will be a day I'll never forget. It was a normal day, so I thought. It was the first day of spring break and I was starting my volunteer placement hours for my social work class. All that day there were threats of severe weather. The sky was unsettling peaceful that day. It didn't rain it was just dark and cloudy.

I had a long day and was so ready to get home and take a nice nap and later to start some homework. I took a picture for Snapchat it was a picture of my ceiling fan and said nap time do not disturb, I also posted on facebook " I'm taking a nap, don't call me unless you are my momma or Jesus". My phone was dead, so I charged it. Upon waking up, I saw a missed called from my mom. How ironic.

She left a voice message. " Hey pookie, I hope you're inside safe and not out here couponing like your momma, You don't have to call me back. love you!" I was groggy and wanted to roll over and go back to sleep. In guilt, I decided to call back and I'm glad I did. My mom told how bad the weather was. I remember telling her I haven't heard anything so I turned on the news.

I was horrified at what I saw. The whole city was covered in red. My heart sunk. I threw on some clothes because I was gonna try to drive to my parents. That was a great option until the neurologist put my city under a tornado warning. Since I was a little girl I hated severe weather.

I would make me nauseous and make my palms sweaty I had just recently started to get over it. My biggest fear was a tornado hitting Jacksonville. While on the phone with my parents I started to panic " What do I do?" I was in the worst places, the top floor of my apartment. I couldn't leave the apartment, It was spring break and no one would be home. I'd be playing the lottery with my life.

"GET IN THE BATHTUB!" Both my mom and dad yelled through the phone.

I quickly grabbed some blankets and towels but before that I through my headboard over my window and with God-like strength, I yanked my mattress off my bed and dragged it into my bathroom. I tried to put as many barriers between me and the outside.

Time seemed to have gone by fast. All I could remember is clutching my phone like I was hugging my parents. I could hear the wind picking up and suddenly heard things breaking and knocking around. I screamed. It's here! It's here! I had the feeling that in the next few minutes I finally see what eternity looks like. I could hear my parents praying on the phone. I cried out to God and ask him to forgive me of all my sins, and told him I wanted to be with him.

I couldn't say anything else but Jesus over and over again. I felt the bathtub shaking like a flimsy piece of plastic I closed my eyes tight and hoped it would be over soon. Just as fast AS IT came it left. I sat in the bathtub assessing if It was safe to come out yet. I did not realize the devastation that laid behind my bathroom door. I had to be rescued by the fire department. I remember the eerie sound of rain and the fire alarms going off it was calm yet unsettling.

The fireman led me out of the bathroom to whatever remnants were left of my room. it was destroyed. I couldn't recognize it. my heart rate began to rise as I became aware of what I just went through. My imagination did not prepare me for what I was about to see. My apartment was gone. I began to cry.

The fireman told me "It's okay, look all this can be replaced, you are safe that's all that matters". He was right. I escaped this tornado with a few scratches and bruised knee and my life. The devastation of that day has made a lasting effect on me. It's got a little better every day but I'm still not looking forward to the spring and summer months.

I pray that it's getting easier for my family and friends here in Jacksonville. I'm amazed at all the support we've been getting and love how the community can come together during times of distress.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

28 Daily Thoughts of College Students

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

121
group of people sitting on bench near trees duting daytime

I know every college student has daily thoughts throughout their day. Whether you're walking on campus or attending class, we always have thoughts running a mile a minute through our heads. We may be wondering why we even showed up to class because we'd rather be sleeping, or when the professor announces that we have a test and you have an immediate panic attack.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Great Christmas Movie Debate

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

1428
The Great Christmas Movie Debate
Mental Floss

One staple of the Christmas season is sitting around the television watching a Christmas movie with family and friends. But of the seemingly hundreds of movies, which one is the star on the tree? Some share stories of Santa to children ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), others want to spread the Christmas joy to adults ("It's a Wonderful Life"), and a select few are made to get laughs ("Elf"). All good movies, but merely ornaments on the Christmas tree of the best movies. What tops the tree is a movie that bridges the gap between these three movies, and makes it a great watch for anyone who chooses to watch it. Enter the timeless Christmas classic, "A Christmas Story." Created in 1983, this movie holds the tradition of capturing both young and old eyes for 24 straight hours on its Christmas Day marathon. It gets the most coverage out of all holiday movies, but the sheer amount of times it's on television does not make it the greatest. Why is it,
then? A Christmas Story does not try to tell the tale of a Christmas miracle or use Christmas magic to move the story. What it does do though is tell the real story of Christmas. It is relatable and brings out the unmatched excitement of children on Christmas in everyone who watches. Every one becomes a child again when they watch "A Christmas Story."

Keep Reading...Show less
student thinking about finals in library
StableDiffusion

As this semester wraps up, students can’t help but be stressed about finals. After all, our GPAs depends on these grades! What student isn’t worrying about their finals right now? It’s “goodbye social life, hello library” time from now until the end of finals week.

1. Finals are weeks away, I’m sure I’ll be ready for them when they come.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas tree
Librarian Lavender

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

2309
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments