Ten Year Anniversary Of Masterson Station Tornado
A lot has changed in emergency response over a decade. With a new severe weather season upon us, how memories of the past are inspiring people to be ready in the future.
Christina Ford has rebuilt her home on Silver Creek Way, but she remembers 10 years ago like it was yesterday.
"When we walked outside it was hard. It was like zombies walking. People were dazed. You could smell natural gas, people were screaming for help. You could see lights on in homes that were destroyed," said Ford.
A tornado moving more than 140 miles an hour blew away foundations.
"Windows started rattling our blinds were moving and my ears started to pop," said Ford. "The roof started rumbling and we knew something was not right."
Lexington knew about that all too well.
"15 secondss later stuff started crashing everywhere," said Ford.
Nearly 300 homes were damaged, costing around 10 million dollars.
"You don’t realize it… But when you see cans of soup in boxes of cereal in pieces, it’s hard to believe that was somebody’s pantry," said Ford.
Ford’s roof was gone and the back of her neighbor’s home blown away. Having been through it, she hopes others will be prepared.
"Definitely heed the warnings. Don’t just blow it off. Have a plan for your family," said Ford. "Just be ready because obviously, it was a day like this. It was very nice and sunny and who knew that in just a few hours everybody’s life in that neighborhood would be changed forever."
There have been a lot of changes regarding emergency preparedness since 2004.
For example, there’s now a new policy for activating warning sirens.
Local officials no longer have to wait for the National Weather Service warning before sounding the sirens.
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