Tornado Victims

Last Friday I spent some time with Karen Young and Greg Kinnard, two lovely people who happened to be very unlucky when a tornado swept through their recently renovated trailer in Nelsonville on September 16th. When Karen was released from the hospital five days after the storm, she found a small camper sitting in the spot where her trailer used to be. It was truly remarkable seeing how little these two are surviving off of.

A few of these photographs ran in something called "The Wish Book" that runs in our school newspaper. The hope is that the photos will touch the hearts of readers and get them to donate money to families going through tough times. This is my first attempted photo story, so I would love any and all feedback! Enjoy!

Karen Young stands in front of the camper she inhabited after her Nelsonville home was destroyed in the tornado on September 16, 2010.

"It's just too sad to think about," Karen said when trying to recall her experience with the tornado.

Karen howls back at her dog, Miss Katie, outside their camper in Nelsonville. Karen now has trouble finding joy in life, but Miss Katie has taught her to enjoy the small things. "It's a miracle she survived, but I'm sure glad she did," Karen said.

Karen looks over a photograph taken of her property right after disaster had struck. "I went to the bathroom, and when  I came back out the front door had blown off. Then the top of the trailer was gone. I don't remember anything after that." Looking at photographs of the wreck helps Karen remember what she missed after she blacked out. 

Karen and her partner Greg empty the trash from their camper. They both enjoy doing busy work around the property so as to keep their minds from thoughts of the tornado.

Lifting up her shirt, Karen reveals the many surgeries she's had over the years. "I've had my kidneys operated on and my stones crushed eight or nine times. I've been in a car wreck and now the tornado. I truly am a cat," Karen said, "I've got the full nine lives."  

Karen feels for the scar on her head where ten staples used to be. "One of our neighbors got a towel and put it over my head to stop the bleeding and asked if he could pray. No one thought I was going to survive."  

Karen leans on her partner Greg for support. They have been together for 18 years but can't get married because they'd lose their health benefits.