When a tornado struck Nashville, Arkansas, on Sunday, Michael and Melissa Mooneyhan did what they could to protect their young daughter.
Facebook / Via Facebook: Ion2004
The pair, who were married as teenagers in 2004, lived in a trailer in the town's D&J Mobile Home Park.
Facebook / Via facebook.com
When the tornado struck, the family's home was destroyed.
"Part of the trailer park is basically unscathed and the other side...trailers were picked up and thrown into a big pile," a Howard County health official, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak publicly, told BuzzFeed News. "There's rubble everywhere."
In the rubble of their home, Michael and Melissa's bodies were found. The pair had died from blunt trauma, local coroner John Gray told BuzzFeed News.
Facebook / Via facebook.com
Cradled in her mother's arms, however, rescuers discovered the couple's 18-month-old daughter alive and unscathed.
The young girl was treated at a hospital and has since been released to the care of family members, the Howard County health official said.
"I don't think she had nearly a scratch on her," local Emergency Management Coordinator Sonny Raulerson told the AP. "There wasn't enough room for her to even stand up. But she didn't try to crawl out. I don't think she wanted to leave her mama."
"You can feel the sadness in the air," the anonymous Howard County health official told BuzzFeed News of the atmosphere in the community of 4,700 people. "This is small town USA. There's still a main street here. People still know everyone. It's very sad."
LINK: At Least Six Dead After Tornadoes Hit Texas And Midwest
SOURCE: BuzzFeed
No comments:
Post a Comment