Columbia woman says tornado that destroyed home was 'scariest moment of my life'
With dust still sticking to strands of her hair, Tammy Johnson, 66, of Columbia is picking up the pieces of the Cothran Road home, where she’s lived for "90%"of her life after a violent tornado tore through her property.
Her residence sits on a lush scenic hill overlooking Bear Creek Pike, the main roadway that leads to Columbia's eastern Interstate 65 junction.
Johnson was upstairs in bed, almost asleep early on Wednesday evening, when her bedroom window blew out.
“Things just started flying like the Wizard of Oz,” she said.
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When the dust and the debris settled, Johnson and her dog, Max, were unharmed. In darkness, Johnson stumbled to collect herself, with Max in tow.
One person has been confirmed dead and four others injured, after an EF-3 tornado struck eastern Columbia off Bear Creek Pike in Maury County Wednesday evening. The storms brought hail, rain, high winds and flying debris to other parts of Maury County and Middle Tennessee.
Gov. Bill Lee visited affected families on Thursday, describing the experience as several hours of "heartache" but also hope as neighbors helped each other and county and city first responders swooped to the aid of residents in need around the clock.
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Trees along Cranford Hollow and Cothran roads are snapped like toothpicks, while power lines are downed in the middle of the road. What used to be a blanket of leaves covering the valley in shade, only sharp wooden edges are left.
“I just said God please don’t let me die,” Johnson said. “It was the scariest moment of my life.”
Her memories are strewn along the front lawn, and a gaping hole in the second-story of her home shows inside her bedroom.
A statue of Moses holding the Ten Commandments is still standing in her yard.
Her sister Diane White and her husband David White helped her salvage items inside the home. A friend Eddie Oliver stopped by to give Johnson a hug and see if she was OK.
"I am just thankful that I am alive," Johnson said. "You can replace things, but you can't replace a life."
The Whites worked to move an antique family heirloom chest from Johnson's upstairs bedroom to safety.
Days of clean-up are imminent, but Johnson says she's thankful.
The storms also caused power outages, damage to trees, structures and power lines. According to Butch Eley, Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner, at least 12 roads were closed Wednesday with some still closed.
With no scratch on her, Johnson called the tragedy "just terrible," but at least she's still standing, she said.
Diana Leyva contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee woman says Columbia tornado was 'scariest moment'
