KOKOMO, Ind. (WTHR) — It's been a year since a powerful tornado came out of the cornfields of Howard County and wreaked havoc across the city of Kokomo.
Neighborhoods and lives were turned upside down. It's been a year of nightmares, hard work and, in some places, a remarkable recovery.
In one of the hardest hit neighborhoods, there are new homes next to homes that have been rebuilt and look new. It looks nothing like the mess Laura Crull and her neighbors can't forget.
"It was just like a war zone," she said. "Broken pieces of lumber trees down and cars gone it was heart breaking really."
The tornado churned across Kokomo, destroying 80 homes, damaging about 1,200 others and tearing up two apartment complexes.
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Debris nearly buried teenager Brendyn Rogers in the family's apartment. His father, Randy, said they lost almost everything.
"You feel helpless like your whole world is unraveling," he explained.
They moved into an apartment across the street. The complex has been cleaned up and repaired. Buildings and homes are easier to fix than lives.
"You feel like you are in a horrendous dream," Rogers said. "...a horrendous dream and waiting to wake up."
A full year of rebuilding and recovery victims said has been a nightmare.
"Some days you felt good because you felt things were getting back together," Crull said, "and the next day it was tears because you realized how far you were from finally reaching that end at some point."
The morning after the tornado, families started picking themselves up and gladly accepted help from friends, relatives and complete strangers.
"We had people bring home-baked cookies around," Crull said with a smile. "We had people literally dropping off cash just because they wanted to do something and didn't know what to do."
Rogers struggled to recover from the tornado while one of his sons struggled through chemotherapy.
"I don't know how we made it," he said. "I know how we made it. People have been so supportive."
There is still a lot of work to be done. Apartment buildings to be repaired, there are empty lots where homes stood and families lived. They've moved on. The property is waiting for buyers and builders.
But whenever there is even the hint of severe weather, there is fear.
"My youngest is still terrified," Crull said. "All he hears is 'tornado' and he's scared."
People said they are sometimes amazed at how how much they've accomplished in a year, but in the same breath admit it will take years longer to recover from a tornado that ravaged their lives.
