When an EF3 tornado roared through Poplar Bluff, Missouri, it upended the lives of thousands of people and scattered their belongings in every direction, both the replaceable and the irreplaceable.
“Our house was a total loss,” said Darby Russom, who was forced to relocate with her husband Trendall.
The storm brought 138 mph winds, according to the National Weather Service , damaging hundreds of homes and businesses.
“It took off our entire roof, took out our whole shed, and crushed our carport in,” Darby said. “There’s so much damage in that area. Tons of people are needing help.”
Nearly everything outside her basement was ruined, Darby explained, leaving them to collect the few personal items that could be salvaged.
The kindness of strangers
The next morning, nearly a hundred miles away near Brazeau, Missouri, winery owners Bonnie and Doug Hemman drove by their front yard to find wedding photos scattered on the grass.
The couple turned to Facebook to see if someone recognized the bride or her bridesmaids in the pictures.
“Does anyone know these beautiful ladies? We found this in our yard after the storms last night,” the post read. “Would love to get it back to them.”
Meanwhile, 50 miles from Poplar Bluff in Marble Hill, Missouri, another stranger found wedding photos in a field and put them on Facebook.
Social media’s ability to unite the community quickly began to shine through. Less than three hours after the post went up, people started recognizing and tagging a few of the bridesmaids. Those irreplaceable photos, showcasing a precious memory, all pointed back to one place: Poplar Bluff.
The bride was Darby.
After their unlikely journey 100 miles through the air, the photos found in Brazeau are already being mailed back to Darby. Those found in Marble Hill have been offered back to her, as well, 16 months after her wedding.
"I simply wanted to express my gratitude. We are entirely thankful," Darby stated.
In Poplar Bluff, the residents have been rallying around each other, striving to recuperate from the substantial destruction caused by the tornadoes and preserve as many cherished memories as possible.
Darby said she has been shocked by the number of people offering their labor and donations to help.
We've never anticipated this level of response from people wanting to assist," Darby stated. "We're incredibly thankful.
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