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Mississippi tornado victim says sister never had chance against storms: ‘Never got out of bed’

By
Social Links for Andrew Wulfeck, FOX Weather
Published March 26, 2023, 9:16 a.m. ET
Man who lost sister.
The unnamed man said he tried to seek shelter when he heard the roar of a twister. FOX Weather

A town that is reported to have a population of less than 2,000 people is now the center of a disaster after what is believed to be a strong tornado rolled through Friday, killing more than a dozen and leaving lives changed forever.

Residents in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, spent Saturday surveying damage.

Among them was a man who lived near his sister.

The man said he tried to seek shelter when he heard the proverbial roar of a twister.

However, in a strong tornado, very few, if any, areas are safe above ground.

“When I went in the closet, and it snatched the door back open and pulled me out,” the man said. “I heard the roof coming off, and then, all of a sudden, a big boom, and it was gone.”

During the interview, the man pointed to a nearby home where he said his sister was sleeping as the nocturnal tornado roared through the town.

“Now, I didn’t even go down there when they told me she had got killed,” he said. “I didn’t even want to go. She stayed in a mobile home right on the other side of that park right there. I didn’t even go. I didn’t want to see it. She never, she never got out of bed.”

According to experts at Northern Illinois University, nighttime tornadoes are among some of the deadliest and more than twice as likely to cause deaths versus daytime events.

Even though the severe weather outbreak was well forecasted, tornadoes at night can catch many people off-guard because they may be sleeping or can’t see signs of the impending disaster.

Man who lost sister.
The man said his sister was sleeping as the nocturnal tornado roared through the town. FOX Weather
Tornado track through Mississippi.
The tornado’s path through Mississippi. FOX Weather

How to help the tornado victim across the South

Relief efforts are underway, with organizations already planning for a long recovery.

Both state and local officials are urging people not to self-deploy to the disaster zone until there is a specific request for assistance.

Storm-related volunteer opportunities will be posted to volunteermississippi.org.

A man sits amongst damage from a series of powerful storms and at least one tornado on March 25, 2023 in Rolling Fork, Mississippi.
A man sits amongst damage from a series of powerful storms and at least one tornado on March 25, 2023 in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. Getty Images
A man searches for belongings inside his destroyed home.
A man searches for belongings inside his destroyed home. REUTERS
The remains of a house and cars are entangled in tree limbs in Rolling Fork.
The remains of a house and cars are entangled in tree limbs in Rolling Fork. AFP via Getty Images

Organizations such as The Salvation Army and the United Way are always looking for volunteers and financial contributions when disasters strike.

Visit the website for The Salvation Army of Jackson, Mississippi, for more donation information at salvationarmyalm.org/jackson.

The United Way also has volunteer information at unitedway.org.

In an aerial view, damage from a series of powerful storms and at least one tornado is seen on March 25, 2023 in Rolling Fork, Mississippi.
An aerial view of damage following a series of powerful storms in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. Getty Images
An aerial view of destroyed homes.
An aerial view of destroyed homes. REUTERS
A view out of a blown-out window inside a family home.
A view out of a blown-out window inside a family home. REUTERS

The American Red Cross has set up a special support section for monetary donations to be used for victims of the tornadoes across the South.

To help the storm victims visit: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html.