6
senseof giving in the truest sense of theword.”
There were storm predictions the morning of
November 17, 2013, and the skies were menacing.
But there was little advance warning when a twister
dipped out of the clouds and touched down just
southwest of Washington as an EF-2 with sustained
rotating winds of up to 120 mph. The tornado rapidly
strengthened to
about 190 mph
andwidened as it
barreled through
the heart of the
community
destroying more
than
500
buildings
and
homes.
Remarkably, only
one person was
killed.
Like
many
people
that
Sunday morning,
Martin was in
church.
“I had just
walked in to
church with my
1-year old son
Tyson. We had
barely made it to
11 a.m. Mass
when it started raining. I sat down and it wasn’t two
minutes later that they had us huddled closer to the
center of the church. Our church is probably a couple
of blocks from where the tornado went through,”
Martin recalled. “We heard sirens and people started
to get messages on their phones. A person behind
me said that they had received a text message and
that their home was completely gone. I knew that
neighborhoodwas in the vicinity of ChadAllaman and
John Tignor (superintendent of Washington District
52) and I grabbed my son and headed that way...I
wanted to make sure they were alright and then
check on the schools.
“Phone service was terrible and I was trying to
reachmywife inBirmingham to let her knowwewere
alright. I sent her a text message that she received
about 30 minutes later. I could not get back to
Chad’s and John’s houses because of the
devastation so I went tomy board president’s house,
dropped off my son with his teenagers and he and I
headed into town to seehowwe could help.”
Allaman, his wife and 14-year-old daughter were
55miles away visiting his in-laws inHavanawhen the
tornado hit. They headed home when they got the
news. The neighborhood was unrecognizable; their
homewas gone.
“Without a doubt, the most vivid memory of that
day was approaching our neighborhood on foot and
not being able
to
recognize
even our street
as the entire
area had been
leveled,”
Allaman
remembered.
“Next was the
reaction of the
first responders
and
people
from
surrounding
neighborhoods
who
rushed
into
the
affected areas
to help under
extremely
dangerous and
volatile
conditions.
People showed
a tremendous
amount
of
courage in the immediate aftermathof the storm.”
The Allaman family home is still being rebuilt and
they hope to be able to move back in sometime in
August, about the time the new school year begins.
Meanwhile, they and their two cats and a dog are
living in a condo.
“Our family is doing well,” he said. “We hurt for
those who lost loved ones that day and are thankful
there was no greater loss of life or serious injuries as
a result of the storm.Weare humbled by and thankful
for the wonderful outpouring of support we have
received.”
Allaman and Tignor both continued to run their
school districts in the aftermath of losing their homes
and belongings. “How?” youmight ask.
“First, with the support of my wife, family, church
community, and friends,” Allaman answered.
(Continued frompage 5)
(Continuedonpage7)
Washingtoncleanup storycontinued _______________________________________________
(L-R) EurekaCommUnit 140Supt. BobGold, EurekaCommUnit 140Asst.
Supt. PatrickDurley, FarmingtonCentral 265Supt.Dr. JohnAsplund,Monroe
Elementary70Supt.DarrickReiley, District 50Schools Supt.Dr. Patrick
Martin, Princeville326Supt. ShannonDuling,MetamoraHSDistrict 122Supt.
RandyToepke, Director Tazewell-MasonCountySpecial Education
Association (TMCSEA) SallyMasear, AssistantDirector TMCSEAKrissiNeville,
TremontDistrict 702Supt. JeffHinman, LimestoneWalters316Supt. Tim
Dotson, Central GradeSchool District 51Supt.Dr. ChadAllaman.
