INDIANAPOLIS — Last Friday's tornadoes reduced entire homes to rubble in just minutes.
The destruction is widespread and the work to clean is underway and will take months.
But the stories coming from the aftermath of the devastating storms of Hoosiers helping their neighbors are inspiring.
Emily Aaron was with her family in Florida when the storm hit Howard County. She traveled back to help her community.
"It felt very disheartening not knowing what to do next and how to help the animals that were trapped here. Everybody came and did the little brush-ups and got the items out of the fridge so it didn't smell. There was so much help," Aaron said. "We are just happy that everyone is safe and it didn't hurt anybody and it's things that can be replaced."
To the south, in Johnson County, the town of Whiteland took a direct hit from the storm. School was canceled the following Monday, so nearly 200 faculty and staff from Clark-Pleasant Schools boarded buses to go to work in neighborhoods in need.
"Because if this happened to me, I’d want someone to come and help me — do unto others — and this is my community where I work and teach and love these kids and love the families," kindergarten teacher Monica Lemon said. "That's why. All these people are taking the time out to come and help and just to show the love — love for the community, for our people, for our school corporation.”
It's a response, they say, that's simply the "Warrior Way."
To the west in Sullivan County, Val and Joseph Reed rode out the EF3 tornado in their basement.
They weren't hurt, but their home is destroyed. Still, they're grateful for the generosity shown by others.
"A gentleman from down the street, he saw me on top of this pile that used to be a house," Joseph Reed said. "He said he prayed to the Lord to show him what he could do for somebody. He said he wants to put a building up, totally for nothing."