March 31, 2023, was a stormy night for the residents of Sullivan, Indiana. A tornado swept through the area causing devastation. Kathie and Calvin Cox, 68, told us that they had to cling to their house floor to resist the winds when the tornado hit their home. “It was so fast, like 10 to 12 seconds, and then everything was gone,” Kathie says. Their young grandson, who lives nearby, helped them escape the rubble.
The Cox’s house was destroyed that night, leaving them without shelter, and most of their belongings were lost. The Red Cross provided the couple with a safe place to stay and financial assistance, which according to Kathie they used to purchase essential items that they needed to get back on their feet.
A few days after the tornado, Calvin fell and broke his hip. He was taken to a local hospital, where Kathie stayed with him while he received care. And when Calvin was released from the hospital, the Red Cross made sure they had a place to stay, “the Red Cross found a place and paid for it for us to stay. We stayed at a hotel in Terre Haute for about a month,” Kathie says. With a safe place to stay, Calvin was able to continue his recovery by practicing walking across the hallway.
After leaving the hotel, Kathie and Calvin stayed for about six months in a camping trailer loaned to them by a friend. Now, they have moved into their new home that was built with support from the local community. The couple is grateful for all the help they have received, but above all, they are thankful that their family is safe, “My husband’s health is good now; he’s doing good, and we’re safe and warm. My grandkids and my kids all made it, and that’s what matters. I really appreciate all the help the Red Cross gave us. I don’t know what we would have done without it,” concludes Kathie.
American Red Cross volunteers and staff respond to disasters year round to provide support to those impacted like the Cox family. Visit redcross.org to learn more.
Written by Communications volunteer, Antonio Rosas-Landa.