Amish Speedily Repair Tornado Damage – Before Gov’t Agency Can Even Have A Look
The Amish are making news for how quickly they’ve repaired damage, following tornadoes in Indiana and Michigan. From wral.com:
The report below is from twin tornadoes in Indiana, one of which was rated an EF-1.
Before the local National Weather Service could survey some of the damage, an Amish community already made repairs to several roofs that were damaged.
In another report, the same National Weather Service said that “the wind speed could not be estimated due to repairs already completed” in Branch County, Michigan. In this same report, it said, “Major damage was also noted to an Amish home, but repairs were already completed.”
Apparently these repairs were completed within 48 hours of the storms.
Hearing that, you would think, impressive and commendable, right? Well interestingly, there is debate over whether the Amish should have waited to make repairs:
According to the National Weather Service in Binghamton, New York, “We conduct surveys to find out exactly what happened. This helps us to improve our warnings for the future. This is also important for historical reference.”
A quick search on social media shows both sides to an argument that’s spawned from these tornado survey reports.
On one hand, people say it’s impressive to see the community come together and act quickly to repair the damage done.
On the other hand, people are advocating for the accurate reporting of tornado damage survey results before repairs are made.
Here is another of the damaged homes – a mobile home in Branch County, Michigan where one section of the home seems to clearly have been recently repaired:
I guess they were supposed to wait for the NWS to come have a look, so that the damage could help with their data collection and future predictions.
But in a typical Amish mindset, if something essential is damaged on your property – like a roof – you just repair it.
I don’t know how critical surveys of these homes would be to the NWS forming the overall picture of the storm, or for future predictions. I am a bit skeptical that a few homes failing to be surveyed would mess things up too much in the full perspective.
The Amish are well-known for their robust, and often swift responses following disaster. One example would be the barn-raising.
I never thought that overall approach might be a problem, but it looks like it was a minor one here in one sense. Regardless, good for them for doing what had to only seem sensible.
If they can repair a home quicker than it takes the NWS to take a look at it, then the problem seems to be the slowness of the NWS.
If it’s my property that is damaged, I’d want it repaired as soon as possible. My property. My choice how quickly it’s fixed.
Amish Make Repairs
I have to agree. It’s my house, therefore it’s my decision to make. Especially in the Winter. Who wants to (possibly) lose precious heat through a damaged roof or wall?? I doubt very highly the Amish present any problem for the NWS to collect data. Having been born & raised in MN (where a tornado wiped a small town off the map in nearby WI) the only thing we know is: If there’s violent weather coming, one needs all the time they can possibly get BEFORE the storm hits. Loss of property is one thing. Loss of life, quite another! Just saying . . .
If the government expects people to wait on them then maybe they should learn a thing or two from the Amish about speed and efficiency!
Repair vs. damage assessment
Uh, isn’t making the home livable and preventing further damage from things like rain more important than having NWS look at the damage to estimate tornado strength? Also, I would think damage to trees, evident in the first photo, can be used to estimate strength. We have had tornadoes here occasionally that caused no property damage but plenty of tree damage that they used to estimate strength.
I guess they could have just used tarps as a temporary repair, but why? If it were my house and I could get a real repair, I would do that.
It’s so nice to see neighbors helping one another instead of waiting for the governments all mighty dollars!! How refreshing!! God Bless.
“But in a typical Amish mindset, if something essential is damaged on your property – like a roof – you just repair it.”
Yep, that’s the Amish way of approaching problems. And, NOT next week or month, but right soon after it happens! Waiting for the government to get around to it (just “evaluation” and no mention promise made of repairing it) is for the birds….not the Amish.
Thanks Eric, for your eloquent, articulate and often poetic use of the English language…it’s for me always a pleasure to read your work!
Dr. Stan De Loach
Diabetologist (Type 1, 2 & Gestational)
México City
https://www.Diabetes-Safari.com
They are welcome ANYTIME to assist at our home if damaged!! Their presence in the Carolinas after Hurricane Helene was timely, remarkable, and so very kind.
As others have stated, maybe the NTS needs to have their boots on the ground sooner. It’s not as if they didn’t know the storm was coming??!
Ridiculous Expectations!
The NWS needs to get its crap in gear if they want to do surveys! Why would any property owner want to comply with them or wait for their properties to be repaired? Meantime more weather comes through and damages it even more! More property loss is the only result waiting for them would create. Who cares about their weather surveys, take pictures and submit them to them if they want to survey the damage, and then get on with repair lickity split! The NWS can pound sand as far as I’m concerned!
I vote for the Amish
That is so wonderful! I heard similar stories like this before. May God bless them! And without any technology, they still put the gov to shame! Says a lot, doesn’t it?
Who's In Charge at the NWS
Maybe the Amish should take over the operation of the NWS?
Speedy repair
I commend our Amish communities for putting basic human need Above government bureaucracy. The photos of the damages and the repairs indicate that these people were in dire need of shelter security, most likely food clothes And other needs. I was raised in a large family(not Amish) And the rule was the person that discovers the problem works to correct it helps fix it or find someone who can. That’s the way we should all live, I would hope that most Americans feel that way however with the criticism from government and other agencies, it seems to me that caring is quickly going out of fashion. Thank you for our Amish neighbors who have offered a hand to others in need. They deserve respect and many thanks!