Snow, cold add to tornado survivors' misery

Survivors try to reclaim a sense of normalcy after the severe weather that killed more than a dozen people in Indiana alone. NBC's Lester Holt reports.

Updated at 5:45 p.m. ET
HENRYVILLE, Ind. -- Snow and even colder weather added to the misery across parts of twister-hit Indiana and Kentucky on Monday, where thousands were still without power, hundreds lost their homes and the cleanup was just beginning.

Several inches had fallen by midday, after a Sunday that included a mix of snow and rain.

In Henryville, where a 175 mph tornado ripped through town on a 52-mile-long tear, the snow added "an almost surreal quality to the destruction all around us," NBC's Lester Holt reported.


Indiana homeland security spokeswoman Emily Norcross said the snow would likely slow the cleanup effort because it covered debris and concealed potential hazards.

"It's slippery and it's hampering visibility on roads, so it's more difficult to see small debris like nails," Norcross said. "It's complicating things."

The fast-moving tornadoes that hit on Friday, numbering at least 30, came on top of severe weather earlier in the week in the Midwest and brought the overall death toll from the unseasonably early and violent storms to at least 52 people. The death toll from Friday's twisters stood at 40 on Monday afternoon.

Related: Tornado drops boy on highway, 350 feet away

Adding to the despair, a toddler who had become a symbol of hope amid destruction after she was found alive in an Indiana field died of her injuries. The tornado that killed Angel Babcock also claimed the lives of her parents and her two siblings.

A man who was caught in the path of a tornado that ravaged his Indiana community speaks exclusively with TODAY's Ann Curry about trying to help save his neighbors and the guilt he says he feels about their deaths, including that of a baby.

"Angel has been reunited with her parents," the girl's extended family said in a statement.

A neighbor with whom the family had taken shelter told NBC's TODAY show that both his home and their home were obliterated by the twister.

Weather.com: Tornado outbreak -- As it happened

In Henryville, about 20 miles area north of Louisville, Ky., school was canceled for the week because of heavy damage to the education complex housing elementary through high school students.

Even so, small signs of normalcy slowly began to emerge.

Utility crews replaced downed poles and restrung electrical lines. Portable cell towers went up, and a truck equipped with batteries, cellphone charging stations, computers and even satellite television was headed to Henryville on Monday.

For every storm, there are the helping hands who bring food and volunteer time. NBC's Lester Holt learns this may be a human instinct.

"We're going to keep living," said the Rev. Steve Schaftlein during a Sunday service at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, where about 100 people gathered under a patched-up six-foot hole in the church's roof to worship and catch up on news of the tornado.

The violent storms raised fears that 2012 would be another bad year for tornadoes after 550 deaths were blamed on twisters last year, the deadliest year in nearly a century, according to the National Weather Service.

In hard-hit areas, National Guard troops manned checkpoints on roads and outside towns, and were inspecting identity documents of those seeking to enter damaged areas in Indiana and Kentucky following reports of looting. Long lines of cars waited at the entrances to some towns.

On Sunday afternoon, police stopped a vehicle on a back road that was trying to leave a home with a load full of stolen copper, said Albert Hale, emergency manager for Kentucky's Laurel County.

Tornado victims flock to Facebook for helping hand

Authorities have also caught people stealing scrap metal and trailers full of animals, and security personnel in Kentucky's Menifee County spent Saturday collecting weapons from destroyed homes to secure them from possible looters, a sheriff's official said.

"I've been through enough disasters to know that people see these situations as an opportunity to come take what they want," said Richard Franklin, chief deputy of the Menifee County sheriff's office. He said looters came from as far away as Ohio.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear urged spectators and unsolicited volunteers to stay out of the way so emergency responders could do their jobs.

Beshear described the scene in the hard-hit town of West Liberty as one of "total devastation" and signed an executive order barring price gouging for food and other necessities.

Businesses in West Liberty were so damaged by Friday's storm that they will have to come down. NBC's Mike Bettes reports.

"It looked like a bomb had been dropped in the middle of town," he said of West Liberty. "Buildings had the walls standing and the roof gone. It was a terrible sight. It's going to be a long, long time to get that town on its feet."

President Barack Obama has called the governors of Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky to offer condolences and assure them the federal government was ready to help if needed.

Even with life upended in so many ways, one family got a reminder that a deadly tornado can't uproot everything.

The home that Shalonda Kerr shares with her husband and Jack Russell terrier outside of Chelsea, Ind., was obliterated: The front wall was ripped clean, leaving the home looking eerily like a shaken dollhouse. An upended couch and a tipped-over fish tank lay in the rubble.

The mailbox was untouched. Its front hatch was tipped open, revealing a white piece of paper.

"Inside was a $300 IRS bill," Kerr said, laughing amid the ruins.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

More content from msnbc.com and NBC News

Discuss this post

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These folks have sure been through alot. Now snow. I feel sorry for them.

  • 14 votes
Reply#1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 5:13 AM EST

IRS bill *facepalm*

Because it was for last year I doubt it can be waived.

    #1.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 9:40 AM EST
    Reply

    LET'S all pray for these people,

    • 13 votes
    Reply#2 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 5:42 AM EST

    Agree with your sentiments on prayer, but there is also some tangible things as fellow American citizens we should also be doing. (donations, physical aide, clean ups, temporary sheltering, etc)

    • 12 votes
    #2.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 5:58 AM EST

    yes, tangible things are the best...especially, to make up for despicable human beings that loot !

    • 4 votes
    #2.2 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 8:42 AM EST

    I don't understand the looting. The death and destruction is enough, or it should be. But to add thievery to the mix?

    • 6 votes
    #2.3 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 10:48 AM EST

    Prayer. That'll help them clean up that mess.

      #2.4 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 3:09 PM EST

      Only an observation -

      Eh the Senator and the state in general want big bad government out of their lives? Hum, they don't want FEMA and stuff like that...the Education and other federal agencies are too costly even though this state of Kentucky and Indiana are both staunch red "conservative" debtor states...I will pray for them...yes...prayer.

      I can not ignore the hypocrisy of morals these pious hucksters put on the country and lay their own state - sheer hypocrisy.

        #2.5 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 5:33 PM EST

        Sir, I live in Indiana. In the last presidential election we supported President Obama. That being said, your political 'observations' are as unwelcome as they are incoherent. I am confused, was the GOVERNOR of Indiana or Kentucky a victim of this tragedy? How about Senators? Congressmen? No, just regular people-not politicians. If I am a liberal in a conservative state, I am a hypocrite because my home was destroyed by a tornado? You have no idea how any of these victims 'voted.' Seriously, you don't know sh*t, do you?

        • 2 votes
        #2.6 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 6:11 PM EST

        Again,...

        I only know what I see as the representative of Kentucky, Senator McConnell and the high profile Senator from Indiana, along with residents of these states. I do apologize if I did not qualify my statement in terms of the national undue influence of both Religulous Senators and the hypocritical statements they make, and in so doing lumped the citizens of these as one...I do know both states have a liberal wing...the far left I do not care for. I am directing my statement or post to these anarchists, right-wing Religulous hypocrites and not anyone else and that includes moderate, especially moderate, Republicans if you can find one.

        There is no cause and effect or connectedness with living in a state and adopting the views of that states elected representatives you state a non-sequiter. Of course, any human being, worthy to be called such, would want help for the stricken. man...........

          #2.7 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 6:43 PM EST
          Reply

          Prayers to my family in Indiana and Kentucky. We love and are thinking of you from North Carolina.

          • 13 votes
          Reply#3 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 6:33 AM EST
          Comment author avatarlarry-2037452Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

          I wonder if MSNBC will report the story about the 2 black kids that poured gasoline on the 13 year old white kid and lit him on fire.? I'm thinkin NOT

          • 7 votes
          Reply#4 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 7:25 AM EST

          How does this relate to this story Larry?? Or do you just randomly post garbage like this? Get a clue pal, my neighbors and myself are dealing with the loss of our homes, our belongings, our lives are basically in shambles and you post this racist crap?? Real thoughtful there Larry, keep up the good work.

          • 9 votes
          #4.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 9:00 AM EST

          That was already reported on last week. And yes, I agree with Dave. What does this have to do with this story at all?

          • 5 votes
          #4.2 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 10:19 AM EST
          Reply
          Comment author avatarNamVet67Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

          How does prayer help?

          • 3 votes
          Reply#5 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 7:25 AM EST

          How does prayer help?

          How does it hurt?

          • 15 votes
          #5.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 8:53 AM EST
          Reply
          Comment author avatarJack-1122070Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

          Maybe God is trying to tell them something....The Republicans spew the "god" card like they are selling lottery tickets.......All while passing laws that benefit the super wealthy and corporations, while the planet is slowly being destroyed......."No such thing as global warming they say, and if there is, WE didn't do anything to cause it, and if we did, we have to study it more.......And it goes on and on.......

          And who are the people that are holding the "banners" for these Republicans=GUESS?

          And the best part of it all is that the Republican legislators have the stones to tell the Obama Administration that they won't appropriate any funds for these disasters unless there are cuts in other programs to pay for them...And these are THEIR Republican states.

          But don't worry, Romney or Santorum will take care of you when they are in the White House.....

          They are reaping what they sowed all of these years.

          • 9 votes
          Reply#6 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 7:42 AM EST

          Jack...you are one sick human being...like Hitler and Stalin...

          you sell your political ideologies on the backs of humans hit by a tornado...no real human sympathizing with tornado victims wants to hear political rhetoric from the likes of you !

          • 5 votes
          #6.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 8:48 AM EST

          @Jack - give me a break. Knock off the politics. I live in KY and you are right - Romney or Santorum will not "take care of you" when they are in the White House. That's because WE NEED TO TAKE CARE of ourselves as much as we can. You have apparently not been reading the stories of neighbors helping neighbors and churches, Red Cross, Samaritan's Purse, Salvation Army - ALL BEING on the ground helping within a couple of hours of this devastation. The government will help - eventually. Aid has been promised by the Obama administration. But, when it gets down to it, it is neighbors pitching in for other neighbors.... I am proud to say I live in a state like that - and across from Indiana!

          • 1 vote
          #6.2 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 12:35 PM EST

          Quit it, Jack. It's only ok for the gop to say stuff like that. We are better than that.

          • 1 vote
          #6.3 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 2:47 PM EST
          Reply

          NO! NO! NO! Come folks using this tragedy to grandstand politics? Really? We need to help these folks not use them. I can't believe the coldness of some people. Helping each other is what this country is built on not blaming and pointing fingers. If yo have no intention of showing any care other than your own self centered thoughts of politics go away. We need a combination of compassion, helping and prayer for these people.

          • 17 votes
          Reply#7 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 7:56 AM EST

          And on top of that anti religious bigots are chiming in. Unreal.

          • 6 votes
          #7.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 10:23 AM EST
          Reply

          My condolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones from this terrible storm.

          • 11 votes
          Reply#8 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 8:00 AM EST

          You know that's a Shame these poor people have just been through Hell and you've got idiots out there stealing copper and what ever else they can get their hands on I say Shoot Them On Sight. These people are trying to put their lives back together. If you want to use your hands use them for some good like pitching in with the clean up.

          • 11 votes
          Reply#9 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 8:20 AM EST

          I live in Louisville, KY. about 20 miles from one of the hardest hit locations in IN and I can tell you it's heart breaking to see all that these people are going through. Most of the people that I work with have friends or relatives from these areas so this all hits very close to home. And for all you morons on this board talking about your own personal agendas like politics or the black kids that burned that white kid have some common decency and talk about that somewhere else. Most of the people that these stories are pertaining too have not only lost everything they own but in some cases have lost their lives or the lives of loved ones.

          • 19 votes
          Reply#10 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 8:32 AM EST

          L33731....well said!

          • 7 votes
          #10.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 8:44 AM EST
          Reply
          Comment author avatarTheDude1973Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

          While it's sad that people go through natural disasters such as these, praying to an invisible being is probably one of the silliest things I've ever seen. I mean, assuming this being does exist (I am not a believer), why would anyone want to bow to such a creature that so horrifically allows storms on his/her planet to actively kill people? For a being that's supposed to be omnipotent and omniscient (most of you religious folks will have to google these for definitions), one should be able to assume that an ALL LOVING, ALL MERCIFUL god being would have enough power, knowledge, and sympathy to avoid putting his creation through such a tragedy. And then a bunch of you pray to and honor this being? Oh, but god "works in mysterious ways", right? Some wacked out stuff right there.

          I'm thinking that you religious people should start seeing the light with disasters such as these. Your praying to god after deadly disasters logic makes no sense.

          Note: Please don't preach to me and quote silly bible verses as evidence your "all-loving, all-merciful" god exists.

          • 3 votes
          Reply#12 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 8:48 AM EST

          Note: Please don't preach to me and quote silly bible verses as evidence your "all-loving, all-merciful" god exists

          Note: If you do not want anyone to preach to you then why are you on here preaching to them, Don't go away mad...Just go away.

          • 9 votes
          #12.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 9:02 AM EST

          I see you have a lot of faith in your own opinion, how ironic.

          • 4 votes
          #12.2 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 10:19 AM EST

          I believe in that invisible being and I am one of those 'religious people'. But please don't insult my intelligence by suggesting that I need to look up omipotent and omniscient in the dictionary. I also happen to live in KY. Your comments strike me as completely unnecessary and rude in the wake of this tragedy. And btw, as a believer I do not believe you could possibly understand how I view this devastation in God's grand scheme of things so I won't bother explaining. Good day to you.

          • 2 votes
          #12.3 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 12:45 PM EST
          Reply

          I was out there for nearly 30 hours this weekend as I live only 6 miles from Henryville. It is bad, really bad. People camped out in their yards last night to protect their belongings rather than go to a shelter because they didn't feel their belongings were safe. People even tossed old pieces of their homes and porches into fires to keep themselves warm. People, please help.

          • 4 votes
          Reply#13 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 8:50 AM EST

          Oh I wish I could help manually, but I'm sure there are other ways to help, donating blood, monetary donations and lots of warm clothes and other items to help them get through the rough times ahead. I'm sure some hugs would help with a message from us on the west coast, that our thoughts and prayers are with them. If I could, I"d leave tom. with tents, tools, batteries, flashlights and some comfort items for the kids. Mother nature, please give them a break!

            #13.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 7:47 PM EST
            Reply
            Comment author avatarjhoopy56Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

            "We want to thank God for all of you and for your thoughts and prayers. God will bring you and all of us out of this."

            If there were a "God", he/she/it would have a lot of explaining to do for all the wanton destruction wrought here -- much less be the object of affection and/or supplication. A little thought here, folks. And please no "*sniff* We simply could not know the wonderfully inexplicable machinations of our beneficent sky-fairy." Pitiful -- and hopelessly inscrutable -- rationale. How, again, does prayer or that whole "personal relationship" thingy work with such a capricious monster for directive agent? And with such pervasive, unquestioning, knee-jerk acceptance of the grotesquely illogical, is it any wonder that churches/temples/synagogues can sock away such embarrassing troves of wealth based on a few mumbled promises?

            Try this instead: No sky-fairies involved, just atmospheric instability -- fueled in the short term by the seasonal, occasionally violent interplay of ocean currents and high-altitude jet steams and in the long term, by a gradient of global warming with contributions from both human-driven industrialization and the planet's own cycles of variation -- conspired to produce surface shears and tornadic eddies which flattened major areas of North America over this past weekend.

            Aside from self-hypnosis, prayer does squat-all (and this, by the widely-accepted description of its efficacy -- or lack thereof: "ask anything you wish in Jesus' name and you get it"* has more caveats and loopholes than the worst of the mail-in rebate offers.) What really matters is the social consciousness which sees suffering and moves to ameliorate same. If muttering a prayer helps you to self-motivate -- good for you. Just don't forget the cash, blankets, shelter, food and medicine while you're at it.

            Gee, such outreach seems almost what some folks would call "god-like", huh? C'mon, people -- stop the worthless, face-planting, breathless obeisance to the nonexistent. No "God", no problem...

            *Unless, uhm, you don't get it. In which case, "God" was just looking out for your better interests and knows everything and directs everything on His own schedule and... and... So why pray, again, exactly? Oh... yeah... uh... h'mmmm...

            • 3 votes
            Reply#14 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 9:17 AM EST

            Jhoopy - I'm not going to argue with you on your point, because I'm not a religious person myself. However the timing you post is crappy. This isn't the time or the place.

            • 5 votes
            #14.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 9:30 AM EST

            jloopy56,Who are you talking to? your self? Why do you run down folks that are hanging on to their last thread of hope? If believe in God helps them , it is no skin off your nose. I am sure you have an answer for all human conditions except this one --You and your superior look down your nose at the masses because ''You have all the answers''attitude.

            God Bless you little "I know better and have all the answers''hide any way.

            • 4 votes
            #14.2 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 9:54 AM EST

            The insight you attempt, jloopy, is underwhelming at best. Unoriginal, poorly-timed, adolescent, and sub-human.

            Your parents must be so proud.

            • 4 votes
            #14.3 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 10:15 AM EST

            So being a MEAN SPIRITED bigot is better than living by a karma LIKE philosophy?

            • 3 votes
            #14.4 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 10:21 AM EST

            However the timing you post is crappy. This isn't the time or the place.

            And yet, it's the time and place to boost the crass notion of prayer? Interesting dichotomy in your criticism.

            God Bless you little "I know better and have all the answers''hide any way.

            How utterly disingenuous of you. But in any event, is this the same "God" who invokes twisters to torture and kill children? Just wondering...

            The insight you attempt, jloopy, is underwhelming at best.

            H'mmm. Your inability to defend the notion of prayer as a viable recourse is duly noted. It's been a while for me -- how does the pablum of dogma taste right now, anyway?

            So being a MEAN SPIRITED bigot is better than living by a karma LIKE philosophy?

            It's called "tough love". Being philosophically retarded can make for a wonderful cocoon -- but are you actually suggesting that comfortable diversion is the ultimate goal of living? As for a "karma like philosophy" -- I think I suggested that practical social consciousness trumps metaphysical folderol like prayer or, for that matter, "karma". Not sure where "bigot" comes in -- though if you find my position somehow unwarranted, perhaps you could point out where my reasoning is faulty?

            • 2 votes
            #14.5 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 11:01 AM EST

            I'd rather believe in a "sky-fairy" which by the way, is so original I'm flabbergasted, then be bitter and unhappy.

            If this gives the tornado victims comfort in their time of need, then who exactly are you to judge them?

            Does it personally affect you? Does it influence your personal life? No? Then why get so offended? Was your neighborhood destroyed? Did you watch your neighbors kids get sucked in to the vortex and get slammed in to the street? No? Then why try to deny these people some small source of comfort?

            If you don't believe in God, fine. But there really is no need to be so heartless at this time.

            • 5 votes
            #14.6 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 11:39 AM EST

            You just dig deeper and deeper, jhoopy. Drivel.

            How do you make such huge leaps? You'll never land safely that way.

            You sling words like the crazy homeless guy ranting on the street corner.

            • 4 votes
            #14.7 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 11:52 AM EST

            Jloopy, you know it takes a LOT of faith to believe in philosophy right? Yeah there is scientific evidence to back how tornadoes are formed...but what set these things in motion? No one right? They "just happened"....very scientific. I liked a recent astronaut quote I heard where he said "I have faith that the spacecraft I am rocketing up in was built by an engineer. I certainly wouldn't go up in something that I didn't know if it was built by someone or not. So, as infinitely more intricate as the universe is I can't imagine it wasn't engineered by someone. I've go faith in that too."

            • 2 votes
            #14.8 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 12:03 PM EST

            It's called "tough love". Being philosophically retarded can make for a wonderful cocoon -- but are you actually suggesting that comfortable diversion is the ultimate goal of living? As for a "karma like philosophy" -- I think I suggested that practical social consciousness trumps metaphysical folderol like prayer or, for that matter, "karma". Not sure where "bigot" comes in -- though if you find my position somehow unwarranted, perhaps you could point out where my reasoning is faulty?

            Its called NARCISSISM. You seem to believe that YOU have all the answers and if someone does not think likewise THEY must be wrong. How sad. You have no evidience to support your OPINIONS and attack those with faith with nothing to base your attacks on because you attack faith. The very definition of a bigot is one who attacks people who do not agree with them. Insert your picture here.

            The prevailing social conscious 300 years ago felt slavery and oppression of women is just fine. The concept that the current human trends should dictate behavior is severely flawed in that humans can justify just about anything as correct, like genocide, rape, theft, animal cruelty, you name it.

            Religion is many things, but first and foremost it eliminates the whims of man in determining what is right and wrong, and that is vital for society whether you believe in God or not. You really cant have a relevant opinion if you cant grasp that concept, and you absolutely do not have a relevant opinion because you OBVIOUSLY can not think critically.

            • 1 vote
            #14.9 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 2:58 PM EST

            Dave, ER, Sco, et al:

            Lots of sputtering on your part, essentially distilling to this: "We cannot address the conundrum you raise regarding how a God of supposedly beneficent nature and with infinite option at his/her/its command chooses to destroy, maim and kill -- but no matter; you, jhoopy, should not call to question this artless paradox because doing so bucks the disaster response status quo." And, one surmises, just scares you with the unavoidable inference.

            Never mind that my point was that tangible disaster relief, not wasted metaphysical ritual, might produce better amelioration of the trying circumstances. So let me ask you: when a person is stricken with thirst do you offer a prayer or a glass of water? And which of these options is the more ethically sound?

              #14.10 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 6:19 PM EST

              Actually its just called sensitivity. You can debate the greatness of God, or in your opinion the malicious sky fairy, somewhere else.

              Its not wanted here. There's a time and place for everything, this is not the time nor the place.

                #14.11 - Tue Mar 6, 2012 10:21 AM EST

                Capt:

                *sigh* I'm not the one artlessly pushing prayer or thankfulness to "God" in the face of tragedy and suffering, so please stop with this silly "insensitivity" smear campaign. I offer real solutions, not placebos -- and because I have the temerity to point out that not only is the emperor without a metaphorical stitch of moral clothing, he does not, in fact, exist -- I get branded an insensitive bigot by those with an agenda to leverage tragedy into some weird mandate for the existence of a beneficent God. I have offered my rationale for my position and it remains unassailed from a logical standpoint. Yet I am vilified. So who, again, is the bigot?

                Allow me to point out that the frustration you are experiencing is a transfer, to me, of the exasperation with the very notion I point out (and that neither you, nor any of those on this subthread objecting to my commentary, have had the good graces to address or reconcile). I would argue that it is the perfect time to put these knee-jerk notions of divine agency to bed -- for it is in the stark relief of wanton destruction that one most easily realizes that sh!t (and not "God") happens. Put another way: wisdom acknowledges probability; foolishness, "God".

                I have no issue with our shared need of diversion and some modicum of self-delusion. Fonzi knew it when he proclaimed "Bull makes the world go 'round." But care must be taken to sequester truth from fiction when matters transition from a private to a public domain. And widespread destruction is most definitely in the public domain.

                  #14.12 - Tue Mar 6, 2012 12:12 PM EST

                  You can keep your internet sighing to yourself.

                  People that are asking for prayers to be sent their way are in laymens terms, asking only to be kept in our thoughts. "Don't forget about us. We're suffering too."

                  Does that help you sleep at night? If prayer is so offensive to you, I'm sorry.

                  These people are not sitting in tents and "praying the destruction" away. They are actively cleaning this up, trying to find relatives, dealing with losing friends family and neighbors all while trying to sort through pieces of their homes that got tossed 150 ft away.

                  Your opnions are your opinions, and vice versa. Just try to be respectful of what these people are going through. They already feel bad enough, they don't need an internet troll calling them idiots on top of that.

                    #14.13 - Wed Mar 7, 2012 2:05 PM EST
                    Reply

                    Looters should be shot on sight! Not to kill them. Shoot them in the knee, the limp they have for the rest of their lives will be a constant reminder of what they should'nt have done!

                    • 3 votes
                    Reply#15 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 9:39 AM EST

                    Disaster or not, let me catch anyone stealing from me. I wont be calling any cops. The only call i'm going to make is to the hardware store to see how much lime cost, lol and the only thing about this comment that aint serious is the "lol"

                    • 2 votes
                    #15.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 12:25 PM EST

                    I wouldn't want to be caught looting in Menifee County.

                    • 1 vote
                    #15.2 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 1:12 PM EST
                    Reply

                    All I know is that as a republican I don't want my tax dollars used to assist these people unless they are willing to offset the aide given by the government with tax reductions for the 1%, this is only fair. When people do not prepare for the worst it is their fault not the government and aide should not be used unless there is an offset in spending. We can't have government helping everyone everywhere without spending cuts the 1% have suffered long enough with the out of control spending by Washington. We the 1% demand tax relief so we can put the 99% back to work.

                    • 2 votes
                    Reply#16 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 10:38 AM EST

                    That was a pretty awesome sarcastic role play there to demonstrate how insane 1% supporting Republicans can sound. Hahahahha good stuff.

                    • 1 vote
                    #16.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 11:59 AM EST

                    Que the violins!

                    OK with you Gary?

                    • 2 votes
                    #16.2 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 12:15 PM EST

                    They have plenty of work picking their shingles up off the lawn and getting their clothes back in off the street. Yep, plenty of work. No need to worry about these 99%. If they get hungry, they're bound to find some canned goods lodged in a tree.

                    • 1 vote
                    #16.3 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 4:26 PM EST
                    Reply

                    We were lucky in the Blue Grass region of Kentucky. I thought it was foolish, at the time, of my employer letting me out at noon when the weather wasn't supposed to get bad till 5 or 6 but looking back on it, it was a wise decision. Most places were shipping people out around 1 or 2, schools were closing, and I believe most people were at home or with loved ones at the time of the storms.

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#17 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 10:54 AM EST

                    What more can these poor people take? Where has all their belongings gone? I hope they are able to find something that's dear to their hearts. Bless them all.

                    • 3 votes
                    Reply#18 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 11:41 AM EST

                    The last thing I need is a prayer. I'm not saying GOD will NOT help.

                      Reply#19 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 11:50 AM EST

                      these people need more than Prayer, they need ALL the Help this Nation Can Give !!!..please, Have Compassion, they went through a Hell of a Storm..much Like a Nuclear Bomb..the ghastly stories i'm reading about, Children & Adults being sucked up into the atmosphere, is just horrifying..nightmares will haunt me & many, for a Long, Long time..my Heart trembles for them, the Blessed should have Compassion......

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#20 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 11:59 AM EST

                      I think that the people that were caught stealing from these damaged homes should of been shot on sight for looting. It was announced that these towns were concidered state emergency disaster areas, so shoot these heartless son of b******.

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#21 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 12:20 PM EST

                      Wake up America! Look around. We need a national day of fasting, prayer and repentance. We need to TURN from our wickedness and back to God. Jesus Christ is our only hope and salvation. Until we get it these things are only going to get worse and intensify. We are a nation that has forgotten God. We break his commandments and claim He doesn't exist. To all of you n'eer sayers and unbelievers God says, The fool hath said in his heart there is no God, and that their works are abominable. Cry out to him like that one man did that is recorded, "Lord, Help me with my unbelief" Do we want to end up like Sodom and Gomorrah, or Ninevah? The choice is ours and the results of those choices are clearly spelled out.

                      Psalm 50

                      15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

                      16But
                      unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes,
                      or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

                      17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.

                      18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

                      19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

                      20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

                      21These
                      things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was
                      altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them
                      in order before thine eyes.

                      22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

                      23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

                        Reply#22 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 12:23 PM EST

                        Wait, a day of fasting? In America? I'm sure Jack-in-the-Box has something to say about that.

                        • 1 vote
                        #22.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 4:29 PM EST
                        Reply

                        2 Chronicles 7:14

                        If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

                          Reply#23 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 12:26 PM EST

                          Oh, I'm sure there is a God, but thank God God is not a puppet made just for you to judge. Perhaps the next time you see a homeless person panhandling for their next bottle of joy juice, you won't judge them harshly with your Godlike Ignorance, instead ask them what brand they prefer and buy it for them, and remember they don't have a home like you do, so buy them a motel room for the night to keep them warm as well while they enjoy their simple pleasure, then maybe the Gods will smile upon you, instead of stomping upon you.

                            Reply#24 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 12:38 PM EST

                            John,

                            Maybe America's repentance should start with you. If you are not glorifying GOD, start; if you have covenant thing with you mouth and partaken in adultery stop if you have said evil thing with your mouth stop. I'm sure the 2 year old girl that died didn't do any of these things. Maybe its the apart of the country that's being punished, what is going on down there.

                            Maybe its has nothing to do with God's wrath and it nature and part of living in the mid-west and southern part of the US. So either move or build houses that can withstand the weather.

                              Reply#25 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 12:43 PM EST

                              'stealing from a girl scout is the worst thing ever'?

                              i think rape and murder is a little worse, but that's just my opinion

                              the girl scouts are about teaching positive values.....that dark haired girl looks like she was about to go on rampage.....she was a little to excited talking about how the other girl punched the guy

                              the facts are, the criminals probably see this violence and cruelity everyday, that's why they did it.

                              i mean look at this young girl, one incident, and shes already angry and violent minded.

                              imagine if she lived in the neighborhood of the criminals......hello, she unfortunately would

                              be just as bad as them

                              maybe she should trade family lives with the criminals...and see what she's like in 10 years.

                                Reply#26 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 12:46 PM EST

                                What does stealing from Girl Scouts have to do with tornado victims?

                                Wrong thread dude, wrong thread.

                                  #26.1 - Mon Mar 5, 2012 3:42 PM EST
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