First responders, city leaders and citizens marked the five year anniversary of the Nappanee Tornado Thursday.
The EF-3 Tornado damaged dozens of homes and businesses on October 18, 2007. "There were just so many little miracles," said Mayor Larry Thompson during Thursday night's event. It was held in the very spot where the tornado touched down. "I think we're stronger today."
People who experienced the storm looked at pictures from the recovery effort. That effort is something Mayor Thompson said was very impressive. He remembers lines of cars full of volunteers showing up after the storm to help perfect strangers. "More than 3,000 people were here," he said.
Mayor Thompson also talked about how quiet it was as they left the command center for the first time the night of the storm to start canvassing the neighborhoods. "You could hear people kind of crying and talking," he said. "It was total darkness and it was just the most eerie feeling."
There were no fatalities as a result of the tornado.
