By Jeff Peters
Catholic Herald correspondent
Labor Day tornado rips through Ladysmith
|
Most of the downtown businesses in Ladysmith were damaged or destroyed by the tornado. Miraculously, no one was killed.The tornado also destroyed numerous homes and caused an estimated $20 million in damage. (Photo by Jeff Peters) |
SUPERIOR --The tornado that ripped through Ladysmith on Labor Day may have destroyed Jim Schultz's home but it renewed his faith in humanity.
"Look at all these people helping with the clean-up efforts," said an emotional Schultz as he watched dozens of volunteers help remove debris around his neighborhood near downtown Ladysmith.
"This will certainly restore a person's faith in mankind," he said. "I may have lost my house and garage to the tornado, but I am also finding out how much people care about each other in this town."
Schultz, who has lived on Lake Avenue near downtown Ladysmith for the past 27 years with his wife, Cora, said he was watching television when the tornado struck.
"There was no warning. I was outside just 30 minutes before and the sun was shining. My wife came running downstairs screaming and pulled me into the furnace room just as the tornado hit our house,"said Schultz.
The 200 mph winds blew out the windows like a blast from a shotgun. "It sounded just a railroad locomotive was running right through our house. It was so loud,"he said, noting they were lucky to escape without serious injury
"This could have been a lot worse if it happened on a weekday or when a lot of people were downtown. Usually at that time of day I have three or four kids in my barbershop getting haircuts. It could have been real bad."
The damage the tornado caused to a 16-by-4-block area, which included most of the downtown business district, has been estimated at $20,000,000. Over 130 structures in the community of 3,900 were damaged by the tornado which struck at about 4:16 p.m.
Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum recently announced a $35,000 emergency housing grant will be offered to residents displaced by the tornado.
He also announced the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority will provide $1.5 million of special financing to affected residents for new home construction and rehabilitation of damaged homes. It will also offer up to $1 million in low-rate financing to help affected businesses.
"It is crucial that displaced residents have access to temporary housing during this crisis,"said the Gov., who earlier declared a state of emergency in Rusk and Taylor counties. "This grant will provide much-needed support to individuals and families living in Ladysmith."
Schultz, 66, whose barbershop in downtown Ladysmith was also destroyed, vowed to rebuild. "This is our home. I may be cutting hair outside on the sidewalk for a while, but I'll be back to work."
He noted hundreds of volunteers from around the area and even neighboring states were helping in the aftermath of the twister. "The cleanup effort is just unbelievable. Yesterday we couldn't see how we were going to start and now we can see an end to clearing the debris."
Volunteer Mike Stedman, 48, from nearby Bruce, said he would help out until he wasn't needed. "Today I am making sure everyone has cold water. This is part of my community and I am committed to helping these people."
He added,"Thank the good Lord nobody was killed. You can always replace buildings but you can't replace people." The National Guard also provided assistance following the tornado.
Weather Shield, which employees 500 people at their window and door manufacturing plant in Ladysmith, is also committed to the rebuilding process, according to communications manager Jeff Williams.
The company was providing free food and beverages to cleanup workers and volunteers at two locations in Ladysmith. "For now we are providing free meals, but we will be assessing how we can best serve the community in the coming days," he said, noting the Weather Shield plant wasn't damaged by the tornado and would continue to operate on schedule.
Tornados also caused damage in Taylor, Marathon and Fond du Lac counties in Wisconsin on Monday evening. They were part of the same storm system that spawned the twister that devastated Ladysmith.
Heading southeast out of Ladysmith, the storm also dropped a tornado that tore the roof off the Gilman High School. Again, there were no serious injuries even though the Gilman football team was practicing at the time.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2002