Jul 21, 2009 7:27 pm US/Eastern
The Deadly N.H. Tornado: 1 Year Later
DEERFIELD, N.H. (WBZ) ―
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Brenda Stevens of Deerfield was killed when the tornado ripped apart her home.
WBZ
On July 24, 2008 a tornado touched down in 11 New Hampshire communities, killing one woman and damaging or destroying dozens of homes. One year later, those communities are still recovering.
The day after the twister hit, I was on the ground with a storm survey team, hunting for tornado clues.
Now, a year later, I returned to two of the hardest hit areas, Deerfield and Epsom, to speak to local residents and emergency responders. Now considered the longest tracked tornado in New England history, I found the communities still in a process of recovery and healing.
"I looked down the lake and it was the blackest sky I have ever seen," said Kathy Bennett, long time resident of Northwood Lake in Deerfield. "The tree was so big it took half the house and the garage with it."
Raw Video: Deerfield Home Destroyed
Raw Video: Epsom Homes Destroyed
Raw Video: Tornado Damage in Epsom
Like many residents in the hardest hit areas, Kathy has only recently settled back into her rebuilt home after 4 moves. Her young daughter still refuses to spend the night there. "It has been an extremely tough year on all of us," said Kathy.
But Kathy credits those around her with easing the pain.
"The community has been a wonderful help.There are really good people out there."
But of course, she still has her moments.
"There are certain days when I don't feel totally healed, but I am back at my lake and I love it," she smiled.
"Do you view severe weather differently now?" I asked.
"Yes, I will never take a warning lightly again. When the winds pick up, I feel a little heart racing that never used to be there."
Raw Video: Path Carved Through Epsom (Chopper)
Raw Video: Path Carved Through Barnstead (Chopper)
Raw Video: Tornado Carves Path In Wolfeboro (Chopper)
"The dispatcher came on and said stand by Chief, I believe you have had an event," said Epsom Fire Chief Stewart Yeaton.
He was soon to be one of the first emergency responders working a scene right out of tornado alley.
"We joke about it and say it's an Oklahoma or Nebraska thing -- no it's a New Hampshire thing."
Getting to people in need of rescue was a challenge. "You couldn't just walk down a road. It was just a tangled mess. There were big trees everywhere."
Looking back he is most proud of the good work done to help the survivors.
"The magnitude of what happened--my guys were able to handle it. I was very proud. The town learned a lot. I believe we are more prepared to handle the next one," the Chief concluded.
Hopefully not any time soon.
Learn: What To Do In Tornado Warning
Learn: How To Tell If A Tornado Hit
STORM STATS
Cut through 5 counties and 11 communities.
At times, funnel reached 1/3 of a mile in width.
100 structures reduced to rubble.
8,400 acres of woodland badly damaged.
Tree toll in the hundreds of thousands.
1 fatality -- first tornado fatality in Granite State in over 60 years.
Much about the storm still remains a mystery. How could the longest tracked tornado in New England's history come from such an odd storm structure (a squall line not a supercell storm) at such an unlikely time of day (late morning) with no eye-witnesses. An article about the New Hamsphire tornado authored by Mish will appear in the September/October issue of
Weatherwise magazine.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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