24: Wild weather and how Dayton has come together

This week has been quite devastating for many in the Dayton area after 14 tornadoes, one clocking in as an EF-4, touched down on Memorial Day.

>>>>FROM WHIO: EF-4 tornado traveled 19 miles and was over half-mile wide

After working at the Xenia Gazette for nine years, I know how they can affect a community for years and years beyond the original event.

These tornadoes were in city limits of Dayton, which makes them much scarier. Many people in Dayton, Trotwood and Brookville have been displaced.

The photos and video of the areas hit hardest make your eyes bug out and your stomach churn. However, to see it in person is a different story. The feelings I felt when I went to affected areas were unexpected.

Sinclair Community College set up times for employees to go out to some of the most devastated areas and clean up debris and trees. One afternoon, I rode in the back of a dump truck with about 10 other Sinclair employees to clean up an area near North Main.

As we pulled into the obvious zone of major damage, it got real. Whole buildings were gone, some of which I had been in many times. My first job was at Hara Arena, and the complex got hit pretty hard. I used to visit the surrounding businesses on my breaks.

While clearing brush and cutting trees, many of the residents came out to thank us and give us bottled water. What do you say to them? I expressed my sorrow for their loss, and many of them were in good spirits. I don’t think I would be the same if I had lost everything.

This just shows you how our community has come together to really help each other. I plan to go back out to help this weekend, as well as perform in a benefit show to help victims.

This week will surely not be one that will be forgotten quickly.