As severe storms rolled through southwest Iowa on Wednesday, with a tornado touching down near Shenandoah, a family fleeing their home in Farragut, Iowa, barely escaped.
"It was hard to keep the boys down, that's what was so scary," said Dee Ossian, who was sitting on the back porch with her two grandkids, ages 12 and 7, when the tornado struck.
Ossian said she was unaware of any storm threats as her home had lost power about an hour before the storm hit. But thanks to the tornado siren, they started to seek shelter — but she said it was almost too late.
"I said boys we need to go in the cave," she said. "When we hit the bottom of the steps, the wind was — and the boys went rolling across the grass. So I went and grabbed Sam, and I opened the cave door, and I fell down because the wind and debris was flying."
Dee's husband, Lynn was at work when he received the news that his house had been hit by the tornado. He rushed expecting to find his house completely ruined.
"I was driving about 85-90 — I mean, write me a ticket, State Patrol, I don't care," he said. "I saw cars pulled off, and my little car was weaving all over the roads."
The Ossians say their home is now unlivable.
Large trees that have been in backyard for years knocked down by strong tornado winds. @3NewsNowOmaha pic.twitter.com/Vz2mZqfaSY
— Maya Saenz - KMTV (@Maya_Reports) June 29, 2017
"Better than I expected but it's still a mess," Lynn Ossian said. "I didn't expect to see house standing, but it's still a lot of damage."
But after the storm, came the help - from neighbors, friends, relatives - all that had heard the Ossians needed a helping hand.
"We got generators, and my friend is an electrician, and we're doing work, and getting some temporary power for the freezers and refrigerators," Ossian said. "It won't be the best, but it'll be another day, and we'll start in."
Shortly after tornado hit home, numerous relatives, neighbors and friends showed up to help with clean up. @3NewsNowOmaha pic.twitter.com/M40TaAAT8A
— Maya Saenz - KMTV (@Maya_Reports) June 29, 2017
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