This story is written by Anna Kate Christophillis, American Red Cross worker.
Tracy Galloway greets Anna Kate Christophillis during Time Warner Cable/News 14′s teleathon that raised over $500,000 for disaster relief in North Carolina.
“It is going to be a new start…it is going to take some time, but we will be okay,” said Tracy Galloway, two weeks after a tornado destroyed the mobile home that she and her family had recently moved into in Raleigh, NC. Tracy, who has finally returned to work is putting the pieces of her life back together, and is grateful to be alive.
On April 16th, Tracy woke her boyfriend up from dozing off on a Saturday afternoon, and asked him to make a trip to the grocery store. 10 minutes later a tree fell through their home – crushing the chair that her boyfriend was previously napping on.
Tracy had no idea that the storm was coming and did not have time to think about what to do next. She grabbed her three year old son, Aden, and ran the opposite direction of the tree that was in her home. As she was running down the hallway electricity wires caught her neck and pulled her back. “Those wires saved my life because another tree fell right in front of my son and me. It would have killed us,” she said.
She continued to carry her son through the house until she finally made it to the front porch. She held him in her arms as she made a split decision to jump down five stairs. “As soon as I got outside I started screaming because of all of the damage,” she said. “My van was crushed and the next door neighbor’s house was completely gone. I just started to run and pray.” One of her neighbors found the two of them, let them in their home, and gave them a blanket for security.
When the storm had passed, Tracy and her neighbors were finally able to walk back outside. What they saw was horrific. “It looked like there was just a battle. I can’t even describe it, and to know that we survived it is crazy,” she said.
“The Red Cross was out in my neighborhood everyday,” she said. “I am glad that they are helping out in the community – we all really appreciate it.”
Two weeks into the recovery process, the Red Cross is now focusing on helping those impacted like Tracy with their on going recovery needs. The Red Cross is helping Tracy get back on her feet by providing her with cash assistance to help with basic necessities such as, food, clothing, and first months rent. In addition, she received a list of referrals to partner agencies.
My son kept saying that, “Our new house is broken and that he wants another one.” After staying with her sister for almost two weeks, she was able to move her family into a new home and give her son what he so desperately wanted – a safe place to call home. “I just signed a new lease and am ready to start moving forward,” she said with excitement.
“Although I still have nightmares, I am glad that I am still alive,” she praised. “You can always buy ‘stuff’ but you can never replace your child or you own life.”
Tracy is an employee with Time Warner Cable/News 14. The organization held an all day telethon on Friday, April 28th, which raised over $500,000 for Red Cross disaster relief in North Carolina. This money will help the Red Cross continue to provide assistance to people like Tracy who were devastated by the tornado outbreak in North Carolina.
Those who want to help the people affected by this disaster can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Their gift will enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other disaster assistance. To make a donation, people can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Contributions may also be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
