2014 Columbia, MS Christmas Tornado: A grassroots recovery for the people by the people

The Christmas Season is a special time of year in the southland. In the Monroe-West Monroe area, we will celebrate Christmas to exhaustion, savoring every moment. It was December 23rd and I was doing some last-minute gift wrapping when the storm reports started coming in. Columbia, Mississippi had been struck by a violent tornado and there were fatalities and injuries. All I could think about was everyone’s Christmas being swirled and deposited in a heap of rubble.

Then I did what I always do at moments like this. I ask God, “how can this be part of your plan.” Reminding him these were his children, as if he needed to be reminded. God and I go way back on this conversation. On Sunday, June 1, 1997, I got mad at God. I was out counting damaged houses and told him, “I am not in church because I am out here helping your people. You did this. This was your storm that tore the place up. The least you could do is help us with a SBA.” Before the day was over, I did ask for forgiveness. While I may not understand what God does, I believe there is no end to his mercy, and I follow him. We did get an SBA Declaration. I said thank you.

A Response and Recovery Center was established at Woodlawn Church located on Old Highway 98 East in Columbia, Ms. They had established themselves as “Columbia Strong.” Not to long after the tornado the Columbia Strong Recovery Team messaged an URGENT NEED via social media across the south. They needed can openers, the manual kind. As I read the message, I thought how humbling.

The National Weather Service quickly published the tornado track data from their survey. I published the tornado track in a webmap application for the volunteers to use. I had been in contact with Esri and Eight Days of Hope and made plans to travel to Columbia, MS where I linked up with my good friend Stephen Pratt.

From the moment I arrived at the church, I could tell they had a management structure in place. A kid greeted me at the door. He ask me my name and my business. He went inside and got the person I was there to meet. I was then taken inside the church. When I looked around the room, it was like an early 20^th century sepia photograph except the people had IPads and cell phones. They looked like they knew what they were doing. No doubt this organization had structure, and it was grassroots. I was so proud of what I saw. They were helping a lot of people with all kinds of needs. They had no expectation of federal help due to the damage threshold requirements. There was a PA and SBA declaration. The webmap application was being used to help manage donations. Some people lost everything and needed everything.

This was the first of three application designed to catch social media channels. The next version had the track divided into sections for management purposes

Team Rubicon, Eight Days of Hope and Meredith Lee with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) were all there working and helping the people. I was told the local government, Homeland Security and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency ratified this operation by the people and for the people. It was effective and they did a great job. All heroes in my book.

The good people of Columbia, MS adopted Isaiah 9:10 as their mantra following the December 2014 tornado. I heard them speak it and saw it painted on a damaged store front.

Isaiah 9:10 "The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars."

Note: Somewhere on Youtube there is a piece of video of a business being struck by this storm. If you listen, you will hear an authentic 21^st century “rebel yell” as the storm makes impact. Every veteran will understand.

If you find yourself in Columbia, MS and drive by Woodlawn Church, give a salute to those patriots for a job well done.

National Weather Service Storm Database Report

Episode Narrative - During the afternoon of Dec 23, just enough ingredients came together to support numerous severe storms ahead of a cold front. Across the Lower Mississippi River Valley, peak heating contributed to decent instability in the developing warm sector in advance of the front. Sufficient low level wind shear and strong winds aloft were also in place as a decent upper low was located to our north. This helped to support organized thunderstorm activity along with quite a few supercell storms.

A long lived, persistent, storm tracked across the southeastern counties (near Columbia, Mississippi to Sumrall and Laurel to Heidelberg, Mississippi line) and produced multiple tornadoes. Widespread damage occurred in southern Columbia and near Laurel. Additional damage occurred across Marion, Jones and Clarke counties. Sadly, five confirmed fatalities occurred, with three near Columbia in Marion County and two near Laurel in Jones County. Severe storms moved out of the region by late afternoon to early Tuesday evening. The front continued to track through the area through the evening of December 23.

Event Narrative - This tornado first touched down just east of the Pearl River just south of Columbia. It quickly became strong and moved northeast impacting the southeast side of Columbia. The tornado remained on the ground through Marion County before lifting as it approached the Lamar County line. Numerous businesses, homes, mobile homes, a National Guard building and power poles and lines were heavily damaged or destroyed by the tornado. One well-built home was mostly destroyed and nearly reduced to a slab. This home received the highest damage rating. Extensive tree damage also occurred along the path of the storm. Maximum wind speed of this tornado was 165mph.

Special thank you to the National Weather Service and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)

Sources: National Weather Service, Eight Days of Hope, Columbia Strong, MEMA and Team Rubican and local knowledge.

Tom M.