Couple recalls surviving tornado in London

LONDON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Across Southern Kentucky, communities are still rebuilding after a deadly EF-4 tornado swept through the area, destroying homes and killing 19 people.

One couple in London lost everything while riding out the storm, holding one another in their bathroom.

“I was still in disbelief that this was happening because, I remember he pulled me down to, to the floor and then he said, “I love you,” and in my head I was like, “don’t tell me I love you,” like, this is not the end,” recalled Karina Rivas.

Karina and Roger Rivas remembered the moment an EF-4 tornado made its way through Southern Kentucky, completely ripping their home from its foundation.

“We were just getting ready for bed and then that’s when my brother texted me saying that his father-in-law told him that, there was some nasty weather coming,” added Roger Rivas.

Roger says he didn’t realize, not only that a tornado was making its way to the area, but it was also on a direct path toward the couple’s home.

“We just kind of, went in the bathroom and ducked for cover,” said Roger.

Roger and Karina are originally from California, and while they grew accustomed to earthquakes, the experience of a tornado was something that to this day, still feels surreal.

“When the tornado passed through us, um, I mean, you could feel the wind and I could feel the dirt, like, I could taste the dirt in my mouth. And once it kind of went through us, he was trying to get up, but I opened up my eyes. I don’t know why, but I just opened up my eyes and I could still see it, and I felt like it was so close. It felt like it was just down here at our neighbors. So I tell him, I told him to wait, “just wait 10 seconds, make sure that it’s actually gone.” I could see the funnel and I, to this- I- I feel like I, I don’t at this point I’m like, was it, am I imagining it? Am I not?” said Karina as she remembered that night.

The Rivas had been visiting the bluegrass state, but officially moved into their new home in December.
The couple lost their dog, Shadow, during the storm’s impact, but thankfully were reunited with her six days later.
Now, Roger and Karina say they’re just grateful to be alive.

“It’s very morbid but I wanted my last words to be, “I love you,” because I didn’t expect to come out on the other side of this and that’s the part that kind of chokes me up because that feeling of… helplessness and knowing that there’s no way I’m going to survive this and, like, even to this day, like, that part just chokes me up because it just, it’s so scary knowing that you can’t do anything,” said Roger.`

For Roger, who also relocated his construction company to London, his first project now becomes his most important, rebuilding their ‘own’ home.
He’s also dealing with an injury he sustained during the tornado, one which he has no knowledge of how it happened.

“It’s so crazy to think that this could have been her head because it was literally protecting her head. And I feel like seconds after I covered her head, something hit me and I didn’t think it was a big deal until, it was completely over and I see everyone’s face looking at my wound and they’re just in shock,” said Roger as he looked at his wound.

Roger’s friend has set up a GoFundMe to help the couple with rebuilding but also medical expenses.

You can click here to visit the GoFundMe.