SANDRA ROGERS
A Journey of Faith and Resilience
On the afternoon of December 10, 2021, Sandra Rogers had been watching the news closely, aware that severe weather was headed her way. As the storm intensified, she called her children, urging them to come to her house immediately with her grandchildren. The tornado was closing in just as they arrived.
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Huddled together in the back bedroom, the adults quickly placed a mattress over the children and laid on top of it, shielding them from danger. As the tornado roared overhead, tearing pieces from Sandra’s house, she prayed. It wasn’t the deafening sound of the storm that unsettled her the most—it was the eerie silence that followed.
Once the tornado had passed, Sandra cautiously stepped outside to assess the damage. Steel debris from the neighboring storage building had shattered windows and caused significant damage to her home. At first glance, her house appeared mostly intact. However, as she surveyed the neighborhood, it became clear that others had not been as fortunate. Many houses down the road were completely destroyed, forever changing the landscape of her community. In the days that followed, Sandra discovered more damage than she initially realized. Her home’s foundation had shifted, and there was extensive damage to the electrical wiring, rendering the house unsafe.
Sandra and her family faced many challenges in the wake of the disaster. Not only did they need to repair the physical damage to her home, but they also had to address the emotional toll the tornado had taken. Sandra, a retired teacher, knew that writing could be therapeutic. One night, she encouraged her grandson to write about his experience, helping him to process the trauma and share his story with his classmates.
Another challenge arose when Sandra sought assistance to repair her home. Both FEMA and the American Red Cross denied her applications, stating that her home was still habitable, despite broken windows and unsafe wiring. Fortunately, Sandra found help with the Mayfield Graves Long Term Recovery Group, which connected her with a Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church (TWKUMC) case manager, Ethan. “We were hoping it wouldn’t be another let down,” Sandra recalled.
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In the months that followed, Sandra’s case manager, Ethan, worked hand in hand with her to process the paperwork needed to get her into the construction pipeline for repairs. During an inspection by Mike, a construction manager from the Mayfield Graves Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG), black mold was discovered in her house, making the situation even worse. “It was going to cost more to repair than to replace,” Sandra recalls. The decision was made to rebuild the dwelling, which was made possible by a Mayfield Graves LTRG building partner, Appalachia Service Project (ASP). While Sandra was thankful to finally receive assistance, she admitted that downsizing to a home half the size of her previous one was a difficult reality to accept.
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During the rebuild process, Sandra worked with her case manager to find temporary housing, which came from an unexpected place. For nine years, she had cared for an elderly couple, and though they had since passed away, their son offered to rent her the couple's former home. She now resides there as she waits for ASP to finish rebuilding her own home, and looks forward to the day she receives her keys and can move in.
Even two years later, remnants of the tornado have remained—pieces of metal lodged in trees and Christmas decorations still scattered across the ground. Throughout the many trials she has faced, Sandra has leaned on her faith for strength. "I knew God wouldn’t put more on me than I could handle. I had to stay strong for my children and grandchildren, even when I realized things would never be the same.”
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Reflecting on her disaster recovery journey, Sandra offers advice to others facing similar challenges after a natural disaster: “Don’t try to tackle everything at once. Take it piece by piece, so you don’t get overwhelmed. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Take it step by step.”
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Sandra is deeply grateful for the support she received from local churches, her own congregation, and the dedicated individuals who helped her along the way. She thanks Mike from the Mayfield Graves LTRG, Ethan from TWKUMC, and Mac from ASP, who all played crucial roles in her recovery process, providing guidance and patience while she navigated the many challenges of recovery.
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Since the devastating tornado, Sandra’s perspective on life and preparedness has shifted. “Material things can be replaced,” she says. “Treasure your family and friends. Pay attention to the weather forecast—everything can change in a second.”