08/01/08 - Jackson

Firefighter Moves Home After Tornado
By: Brandon Artiles
 
    THOUSANDS OF WEST TENNESSEANS LOST THEIR HOMES AS A RESULT OF THE FEBRUARY FIFTH TORNADOES.

     AS THE REBUILDING PROCESS CONTINUES ACROSS THE REGION TWO JACKSON NEWLYWEDS HAVE JUST MOVED IN TO THEIR REBUILT HOME.

     TERRY AND MIA NEELY, A FIREFIGHTER AND TEACHER, MOVED INTO THEIR NEW HOME YESTERDAY AND THEY'RE FINDING OUT IT'S THE SMALL THINGS THEY MISSED.
 
        "IT'S GOOD TO BE ABLE TO SIT IN YOUR BACKYARD," MIA NEELY SAID.
 
        AFTER SIX MONTHS AT NORTHRIDGE APARTMENTS THEY ARE HAPPY TO GET BACK TO THEIR OWN PIECE OF REAL ESTATE.
 
     "IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK," TERRY NEELY SAID.  "ALL OUR NEIGHBORS ARE GLAD FOR US TO BE BACK."
  
     THE OLD HOME WAS UNINHABITABLE AFTER THE TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.  AS THEY LOOK AT PICTURES OF THE SKELETAL STRUCTURE THAT WAS ONCE THEIR HOUSE.  THEY BOTH FEEL FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS HOME.
 
    "I KEEP THINKING.  WHAT IF I STAYED HERE," MIA SAID.
 
     AS THE STORM GOT POSSIBLE A LIFE-SAVING CALL FROM A FRIEND.  THE VOICE ON THE OTHER LINE SAYING, "SHE SAID, 'I THINK YOU NEED TO PACK SOME CLOTHES AND COME TO MY HOUSE."
 
     MIA NEVER MADE IT TO HER FRIEND'S HOME IN THREE-WAY INSTEAD STOPPING AT TERRY'S FIRE STATION ON ASHPORT ROAD.  TERRY HAD TO LEAVE TO RESPOND TO THE DEVASTATION AT UNION UNIVERSITY.  A SCENE HE WILL NEVER FORGET.
 
      " I AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMED THERE WAS NO LIFE THERE," NEELY SAID.  "I THINK ABOUT IT EVERYDAY."
 
     TERRY SPENT THE ENTIRE NIGHT AT UNION SAVING TRAPPED STUDENTS, BUT THE NEXT MORNING HE WAS AT ANOTHER UNFORGETTABLE SCENE.  HIS OWN HOME DESTROYED BY THE STORM.  WHILE THEY LOST THEIR HOME THEY BOTH SAY THEY FEEL BLESSED.

     THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY, FARM BUREAU, IMMEDIATELY STEPPED IN TO HELP THE COUPLE.  "THAT MADE US FEEL A LOT BETTER KNOWING THAT WE WILL REBUILD OUR HOME.  HAVE A PLACE TO STAY," TERRY NEELY SAID.
     
    AND WHEN THEY HAD TROUBLE FINDING SOMEONE TO REBUILD THEIR HOME.  ANOTHER ANSWERED PRAYER.  THIS TIME IN THE FORM OF CONTRACTOR LEONARD DIFFIE.
     
    "HE (DIFFIE) STOPPED BY, HE SAID, 'I'LL BUILD YOU A HOME.  DON'T WORRY ABOUT NOTHING."

     THEY'LL NEVER FORGET THIS EXPERIENCE.  AN EXPERIENCE COMPOUNDED BY THE ALMOST AS TRAUMATIZING EVENT OF WEDDING PLANNING.  THE NEELY'S GOT MARRIED ON MAY 10, 2008, AND ARE NOW FOREVER GRACIOUS TO THOSE WHO HELPED THEM START THEIR NEW LIVES TOGETHER.

     "I'M VERY THANKFUL.  IT'S A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, A MIRACLE IN DISGUISE," TERRY SAID.