LINWOOD, Kan. — It's been almost a month since an EF-4 tornado ripped through parts of Douglas and Leavenworth counties in Kansas, leaving behind extensive damage in Lawrence and Linwood among other places.
For many people, like Linwood resident Mike Thomas, cleaning up after Mother Nature's wrath continues.
He was fixing the tarp that covers part of his missing roof Sunday. It has been difficult keeping it on, because of the rain and wind, creating a new annoyance for Thomas and his wife.
"Every gust of wind you hear and so forth," Thomas said.
His neighborhood was hit hard.
"All the ones around me are gone, yeah," said Thomas.
The Thomases lost their cars, clothing and myriad additional possessions, but Mike calls himself lucky because the house still stands.
"We will get there," he said. "I built it once, I'll build it again."
Down the street, Jack Foster and his wife, Donna, work to figure out their next step. A house, barn and work shed on the Fosters' property was in the path of the tornado.
"I could hear the gusts and I said, 'Donna, it's right here on us,'" said Jack, who has lived in Linwood for nearly 40 years. "About that time, it really hit hard. We could hear the nails going out of the wood, and the boards and stuff were starting to crack."
The couple became trapped due to debris from the storm and were unsure if help was coming until they heard a voice.
"PI really didn't believe it when I first heard a voice say, Is anyone in there?" Jack said.
The Fosters are starting over by moving into a new home in a different city, but the couple said they will miss Linwood.
"We are going to count our blessings we are alive," Jack said. "We are going to move on, and that's what we are doing."
Jack said despite the recent adversity, he'll remember Linwood most for the generosity and kindness of its people duirng a time of need.
"It really makes you believe in all the good that is out there," Jack said. "It's amazing."
