Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Families Picking Up Pieces Following March 1 Tornado

Several area families had their homes destroyed or damaged by the March 1 tornado.

Tim Ashbrook lost everything in the storm, as his home was completely demolished by the twister.

Steve Cox's home suffered major damage by the storm, which knocked a mobile home off its blocks and into another building, while knocking down a shed where crickets were raised.

William Mullins' home, next to the Ashbrook place, sustained heavy damage, but was still liveable, while the home of Robert Godwin was demolished by the storm.

Barns and sheds at Willow Oak Acres were also damaged, with some horses having to be destroyed because of injuries.

Cox, Mullins and Ashbrook agreed they were fortunate regardless of the damage done. Steve Wren, who owns Willow Oaks Acres, and Godwin could not be reached for comment.

The others said it could have been worse as none were seriously injured in the storms. In fact, the only injury sustained in the twister was to Cary Ashbrook, who received cuts from being in his 1997 Ford F-150 in the storm.

His truck was literally caught in the twister and demolished while he was inside. However, according to his father, Tim, Cary had to have some glass removed from his shoulder and one stitch in the back of his head.

The truck, however, was a total loss. In fact, Tim Ashbrook said the truck must have been lifted up and dropped on its nose, because both air bags had been deployed. But, the vehicle was found resting on its side in a ditch by the Ashbrook home.

Ashbrook's wife, Terri, and daughter, Kelli, were at a local nursing home visiting Terri's mother. Tim was working at Prescott Motor Co. when the storm hit, while Cary was at home.

Terri, Kelli and Tim didn't realize a tornado had even been in the area. Tim said he knew there was some heavy rain and wind, but never suspected a twister had hit, especially his home.

"To be as calm and settled as it was (downtown), and go there and see the devastation," he said, "I was in awe.

"But, it's all been good. I feel blessed. There aren't words to explain what people have done. Everything torn up can be replaced."

Ashbrook said the family hasn't been able to go through the rubble, as Terri's dad recently had an operation.

In the meantime, though, he said they will rebuild, and aren't considering anything else.

Mullins was at home with the flu when he heard of the approaching storm.

As a member of the Nevada County Rescue Unit, Mullins was monitoring his scanner and heard about the twister hitting Hempstead County.

When he did, Mullins put the county's weather spotters out.

"I was on the front porch and heard a roaring," he said, "but couldn't see anything -- it was so rain-wrapped."

Mullins got in his pickup to see if he could find the storm, and as he reached the end of his driveway, he could see rotation in the clouds and trees being picked up.

"I turned left and should have turned right," he said. Left took him into the teeth of the wind as he headed for Exit 46 at Interstate 30.

"I felt the brunt of it, and was lucky it didn't get me," he said. Mullins made it to the truck stop at the exit and told everyone to take cover because a tornado was on the ground.

Once the people were warned, Mullins returned home. "I knew it hit before I got home, but didn't know where my grandchildren were at the time." This caused some concern, but all turned out well in the end, as the grandchildren, Kelli and Cary Ashbrook, were not seriously harmed.

The Mullins home was damaged, he said, by part of the roof from the Ashbrook house. A portion of the roof was found in William Mullins' bed.

Mullins said he couldn't tell how wide the twister was because he was looking at it head-on. "I feel like it was an F3, maybe a little higher, but not an F4.

"We lucked out, but I'm nervous when it thunders," Mullins said. Now, he is working with the insurance company to get repairs made to his house, and having a new roof put on.

Other damage to the Mullins home included some lawn furniture being blown away, some fencing down around the pasture, and a privacy fence around their pool, while an outbuilding was also damaged.

The Cox family wasn't as fortunate with the property damage, but were equally lucky as no family members were harmed.

Cox's wife, Lynn, was working at the Hope Post Office when the tornado hit, while Cox was on his way to Hope for some supplies. One son, Bryan, was at home, but was warned by his mom of the approaching storm.

According to Steve Cox, Bryan was able to get in his truck and make it to the Exit 36 overpass, where he weathered the storm.

Cox said he thought it was a heavy rainstorm, not a tornado. However, Bill Otis, chief deputy with the Hempstead County Sheriff's Office, found him, telling him he needed to go home, but not why.

Cox tried to reach his son by phone, but the line stayed busy. Because this was unusual for Bryan, Cox returned home to find the family's cricket farm had been destroyed.

The Cox's mobile home was knocked off its blocks and against a nearby metal building. The shed housing the crickets was demolished.

Four vehicles were also destroyed by the twister, with all four being uninsured.

The Cox's had two boats damaged, and one blown away -- not found yet.

A backhoe was moved by the high winds, and had its steering wheel ripped off, while a tractor was damaged as well.

One all-terrain vehicle (ATV) was literally taken apart by the tornado, with parts strewn for nearly a mile.

Now, the Cox family is working with the various agencies to see how to plan their immediate future.

Cox is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the insurance company to see what can be done. He has also talked with the Small Business Administration (SBA) about a low-interest loan to possibly rebuild.

In the meantime, though, the 1997 business season has been lost for the Cox's.

This, he said, is the busiest time of the year for the cricket industry, but with his crop gone, there is nothing he can do.

He said if he had everything in place at this time, it would take 60 days to get the first crop of crickets ready for sale. "We won't be able to get started until next year," Cox said.

And this is only depending on what happens with FEMA, the SBA and the insurance company. He said, there is a chance they may not rebuild at all if he can find another job.

Now, the Cox's are staying in one of the metal buildings on the property, which has electricity and some water. But, they have to visit other family to take showers.

Still, all involved consider themselves lucky because they nor their loved ones were seriously hurt by the tornadoes, while six died in neighboring Clark County.