Rolling Fork remembers the lives lost in a deadly tornado one year ago
The EF-4 tornado tried to erase much of the community
The EF-4 tornado tried to erase much of the community
The EF-4 tornado tried to erase much of the community
Sunday, March 24, marks one year since a devastating tornado hit the city of Rolling Fork and surrounding areas.
More than two dozen people were killed, and millions of dollars in damage done.
The Rolling Fork community honored those who lost their lives one year after that unforgettable night.
People in the community shed tears during a memorial Sunday as the names were called of their loved ones who they lost during the storm.
Tracy Harden, the owner of Chuck's Dairy Bar, said, “It gives me a huge sense of what we had and what we are so desperately trying to get back.”
Marketta Merrill said, “Emotions are everywhere, you know, the ceremony we just had, it kind of made it worse, but you know we gonna get through this sad for friends and family and just the community itself.”
One year later community members say the journey has been a long road.
“In the beginning, it was just so hard and devastating seeing everything go on and having to drive home at night and seeing after math, compared to this year, it’s getting better,” Marketta Merrill said.
Since the tornado, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has helped provide millions of dollars in food, shelter and resources to the area and the American Red Cross, along with local and state nonprofit organizations, have also contributed to providing support during the recovery.
The people of Rolling Fork said when the cameras go away and the attention shifts, they are resilient and will press on as the rebuild of the city continues.