Devin Johnson’s life has been uprooted for a second time by a devastating tornado, which flattened his home over the Memorial Day weekend. This tragic event occurred on the same lot in Kentucky where another tornado had left him homeless in 2021. At just 21 years old, Johnson’s experience of losing his home not once but twice highlights the relentless and unpredictable nature of such natural disasters.
On Tuesday, Johnson watched as workers used chainsaws to cut into the wreckage of the trailer he shared with his grandparents and girlfriend. The scene was eerily reminiscent of the aftermath of the previous tornado that struck the tiny western Kentucky community of Barnsley in December 2021. That tornado was part of a night of terrifying storms that claimed 81 lives across the state. Reflecting on their misfortune, Johnson said, “We never thought that it would happen again.”
Amid the uncertainty of starting over, the family has made one firm decision: they will not return to Barnsley. Johnson expressed that the area now holds too many painful memories of loss. “All we know for sure is we’re not going back here. It’s going to have so many memories of us losing everything,” he said.
The most recent tornado hit Barnsley on Sunday, bringing with it winds up to 165 mph (266 kph) and carving a destructive path across nearly 36 miles (58 kilometers) of Kentucky, according to the National Weather Service. The region was battered by multiple rounds of severe storms, and damage assessment teams are still determining the number of tornadoes that touched down. In a particularly close call, another powerful storm on the same day narrowly missed Mayfield, a city still recovering from a 2021 tornado.
In response to the Sunday storms, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency and reported five deaths statewide. He toured the storm-stricken areas of western Kentucky on Monday to assess the damage firsthand. In Barnsley, the tornado’s wrath was evident: a home next to Johnson’s trailer was leveled, another was knocked off its foundation, and yet another lost its roof.
Johnson and his family had fled before the tornado struck, seeking refuge with a relative in nearby Madisonville. As they monitored weather alerts, they feared the worst. “We just all had that feeling that we just lost everything again,” Johnson recalled. Their fears were confirmed when they returned to their neighborhood and found their home reduced to rubble.
The 2021 tornado had already left a deep mark on Johnson’s family. Without a basement to retreat to, they had huddled in the kitchen of their trailer, clinging to a table as the storm roared around them. Johnson vividly remembers the terrifying experience: “You start hearing a roar and then the entire house started shaking. The power started flickering and the windows just shattered. And then all of a sudden you just feel the wind and pressure and this roar just ripping through the house and it starts tugging on you and trying to drag you out.” Miraculously, the family emerged unhurt, though their home was destroyed.
In the aftermath of the 2021 tornado, Johnson’s family managed to salvage some belongings, including a cherished statue of Jesus and Mary that his grandmother had owned for decades, and a few family mementos such as photos. They slowly furnished their new trailer as they scraped together enough money. However, the latest twister has scattered their possessions across the neighborhood once again. “This time, everything that we have is gone,” Johnson lamented.
Despite the devastation, a glimmer of hope emerged when they found an engagement ring that had belonged to Johnson’s girlfriend’s grandmother. “It’s very meaningful to her because it’s the last memory she has of her grandma,” Johnson explained.
Although the family had insurance both times, their situation remains dire. “Right now we have no money. So we’re just trying to figure out how to go next,” Johnson said. Currently, they are staying at a motel in Madisonville, with relatives helping cover the expenses. The plan is to move to Madisonville permanently, as Johnson and his girlfriend have been saving money since the 2021 storm in hopes of getting their own place. For now, they will likely live with his grandparents. Johnson works at a warehouse in Madisonville, and his girlfriend is employed at a local factory.
“It’s just been so tight since then with all the bills we had to go through,” he said, emphasizing the financial strain they have endured. Having witnessed the immense power of tornadoes firsthand, Johnson is now longing for a home with a basement. “We know the power that they’re capable of and how easily they can just take your life,” he said.
As the community of Barnsley continues to grapple with the latest disaster, the recovery process is marked by the familiar sounds of chainsaws and workers collecting debris. The remnants of Johnson’s home are being cut into smaller pieces for removal, while other structures nearby have also been flattened.
The repeated devastation faced by Johnson and his family underscores the vulnerability of those living in tornado-prone areas and the profound impact such natural disasters can have on individuals and communities. As they rebuild their lives once more, their resilience and determination stand as a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure and overcome even the most harrowing of circumstances.