05/28/2026
7 years ago I called my dad from West Palm Beach Florida. I called with concern telling him that the storms that night look like they could be rough.
Later that night I called him again telling them we need to make sure grandma and grandpa are ok because there’s a tornado on the ground near Richmond.
That same tornado moved over the Darke co line and went just south of my sister’s house.
Called my dad back again because the tornado strengthened and took a dive SE. Never a good sign. I said to my dad… and I quote, “I’d be surprised if the church is still standing”
My dad is the pastor of Northridge Wesleyan Church on N. Dixie. In case you didn’t know.
We stayed on the phone as I watched the radar show that EF4 tornado roll down N. Dixie and take the family center and half the church building.
About that time, my dad had to take another call from a church member who said she and her neighbors were OK, but she was looking up at the sky from her bedroom and that her neighbors roof was in her pool… after all of that, she had a sense of humor.
Thankfully no one was hurt in this particular tornado. The strongest of the 15 that touched down in the Valley.
But we look back at this day and remember the stress and the hurt we all felt, but look forward to see how such a community has come together and strengthened.
I will ALWAYS love the Miami Valley!
