We have had many folks checking in with us from Sunday night when the storms hit through the following days as the national news began to run the stories of the destruction – THANKS for thinking about us. Our family and home made it through the tragic tornadoes that hit Arkansas on Sunday, April 27th. Below is a recap of an emergency staff meeting held Monday morning at FamilyLife to share the tornado losses of staff members. One family had substantial damage to their home, another lost their home altogether but all family members (including pets) were safe. A third family, pictured below, lost their home and 3 family members – the dad and two daughters.
You might be wondering, how do you stay ‘safe’ during a tornado? Our family goes to an interior downstairs bathroom during tornado sirens. All day Sunday the threat of storms dragged throughout the day, keeping us close to home but nothing seemed to materialize. Finally at 7 pm we all settled on to the couch to watch a show, and not 10 minutes in the sirens began. I’m embarrassed to say now that we all grumbled about our interrupted show as we settled in to the bathroom together. As per our tradition, we played an Adventures in Odyssey to pass the time, didn’t hear much as far as weather went, but waited out the warning there for about an hour.
During this hour was when the events below took place. Though we were not close friends with the Tittles, we ran in many of the same circles as they also home-schooled and have similar age children to our girls. Please be in prayer for the Tittles, other staff families who sustained damage, and the many other residents of Arkansas affected by these storms!
A day of extreme emotions here at FamilyLife.
He died as he lived … protecting his family.
Rob Tittle, a FamilyLife staff member and kindred spirit warrior for the family, died last night in the tornado that crushed parts of central Arkansas. Two of his daughters—Tori, age 20, and Rebekah, 14—were among the 16 killed in the storm.
Rob, 48, and his wife Kerry, had heard the tornado warnings and were shepherding their nine children under a stairwell when the tornado disintegrated their home. Rob was doing what a man does—putting his family first—when the twister hit.
The Tittles’ 19-year-old daughter posted this on Facebook from a friend’s house: “… my mom, and my six brothers/sisters are alright. We have lost three of our family … Dad, Tori and Rebekah, prayers would be appreciated. The house is gone stripped from the foundation. The Lord Gives and the Lord Takes away, Blessed be the Name of the Lord.”
Thankfully the twister missed our [Rainey] home, but it did chew through the property of another staff couple, Dan and Nancy Butkowski. Their house suffered roof and window damage and the tornado scattered more than 100 trees like matchsticks.
Unfortunately that wasn’t the end for our staff. The tornado swept across the Arkansas River and smashed into the small community of Mayflower (poulation 2,312) where another staff couple, Dan and Kristin, lost their home and their two cars.
With about 10 minutes’ warning, they were able to see the tornado approaching across the river and moved their six children and four pets into the master bedroom closet, which was constructed as a tornado safe room.
At the last minute, Dan closed the door as the family prayed and held onto each other through the terrifying storm. When it was over, after checking to see that everyone was okay, they were unable to open the door until neighbors, whose homes were also badly damaged or destroyed, quickly arrived with help. An overturned pick-up truck stood on its side just a foot from their safe room wall.
The following morning, this picture of their home was posted on a local media site.
Facing the very real possibility of meeting the Savior that night, Dan challenged his children to be sure they had received God’s salvation through Jesus Christ. While the family is grateful beyond words for God’s protection, they are grieving with their community as recovery begins.
This is a time of extreme emotions here at FamilyLife. We mourn the loss of a good man and coworker and his two daughters, and at the same time we celebrating the survival of so many children and family members. The news could have been much worse.
One last post from the Tittles’ 19-year-old daughter: “Dear friends, Do one thing for me. Hug your dad. Hold him tight and don’t let go, that man is the greatest gift God gave to you. Tell him you love him, tell him you will always Love him.”