Sudden Storms Cause Severe Damage Over Weekend

After a line of storms passed through the area earlier in the week (Tuesday, April 28), bringing down tree limbs and damaging outbuildings in the Miller area, another line of storms popped up Sunday morning (May 3) caused even greater damage in areas of western Lawrence County near LaRussell and the Avilla area in Jasper County.

Hailstones, some about baseball-sized, fell like snow in several places. Damage to homes was extensive, including that of David and Patty Langston, in rural Lawrence County east of LaRussell, the nearby residence of the late Charles and Kathryn Langston, and the homes of Gary and Jane Stockton and Aaron and Amanda Stockton as well as that of Jason and Sundeana Boyd and many others.

“We’re thankful for everybody’s concern,” said Patty Langston. “Lots of neighbors came to help me and my husband and boys.”

Many neighbors, including the Boggs family, turned out within the hour to help board up broken windows and lend other assistance.

A picture of Patty Langston, distraught in front of her severely damaged home, was viewed over 200,000 times by Sunday evening after being posted on the Facebook page of The Vedette.

Langston said that she was emotional not over the damage to her home, which was extensive, but out of concern for her daughter-in-law who was caught in the storm.

“I was crying because of Gina - I had just saw her get out of the pickup. 
I was shaking like a leaf,” said Patty Langston. “I was so distraught that she was out in the field with nothing to protect her. I had too much emotion and I had to let it out.”

Of course, the Gina to which Mrs. Langston is referring is publisher/editor of The Vedette, Gina Langston. Her personal account of the storm can be found here https://www.greenfieldvedette.com/articles/2380/view

Over on the Stockton properties, Aaron Stockton said that he was thankful to live near such generous, giving neighbors, even with the losses his family suffered to their homes, including his own, only a year old.

“As I sat out in the pasture decompressing from the day I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to everyone that has called, texted, stopped by, offered to help, showed up to help, and most importantly prayed for my family and I today,” said Stockton. “It’s been a long day and we have a lot of cleanup to do, but we are safe and healthy. God has blessed us by allowing us to live in such a caring community.”

Ryan Stockton, brother to Aaron, echoed his sibling’s sentiment.

“I’m just thankful everybody was okay and it all can be replaced!” said Ryan Stockton “It’s very sobering seeing what Mother Nature can do in such a short time. Thank you to all the neighbors and friends that stopped and offered help.”