Sherra Smith said when she got the call from her church prayergroup that a tornado had hit the Beeson Drive home of her friendBertile Beasley and husband Bill, her only thought was that she hadto get to her and see her in person.

“I felt like I just had to go see her and put my hands on her,”she said. “On the drive over there from my house, we didn’t knowwhere she was; they couldn’t find her. I was worried she was goingto be found under a pile of debris.”

But to her great relief, Smith said Bertile had taken her motherto the beauty shop and wasn’t at home when the storm hit around 9a.m. Thursday. Meanwhile, Bill was hospitalized and released laterin the day.

Smith said the sheer devastation was one of the first thingsthat struck her when she saw the wreckage of the homes on theroad.

“There was not a stick of furniture that wasn’t broken, and therefrigerator was across the road,” she said. “I can’t imagine thepower that was in that wind.”

Lincoln County Assistant Fire Coordinator Randy Jordan was amongemergency crews digging for personal belongings in the rubble. Hesaid emergency workers and neighbors on hand had only one thoughtin mind.

“I think people realized that if it was their stuff, it’s whatthey’d want somebody to be doing for them,” Jordan said. “If it hadbeen my home I’d have appreciated people coming to help.

“It makes you feel proud to try to save something that is whatlittle they have left from what’s been destroyed, and to be able togive them back at least some of their personal items that can’t bereplaced,” he continued.

Smith’s son Brett was also on the scene, trying to help in anyway possible. He said the level of destruction left himspeechless.

“I was speechless, just completely taken aback. We were justtrying to salvage everything we could for them,” he said.

Heuck’s Retreat Volunteer Fire Department Lieutenant Chris Reidsaid not only the Heuck’s community, but the entire county alwayscomes together well in a time of disaster. He alluded to theclose-knit community.

“Everyone knows each other, we all live close together and mostof us grew up together,” he said. “You feel bad for those who losttheir homes, and you just want to try to help them get back ontheir feet.”

Zetus Voluteer Fire Department Vice President Grady Case, whowas in on some debris removal across the county on Zetus Road, saidwhat he’s always loved about being a part of Lincoln County is howthe residents circle the wagons when times get tough.

“I believe it’s because we all have the same goal in mind, andthat is to get out there to try to help one another, because theseare our families that are affected, these are our neighbors,” hesaid.

Reid pointed out the fact that in spite of the devastation BillBeasley was the only one hospitalized. Beasley was treated andreleased.

“It was such a blessing that nobody was killed, especially theway the trailer looked,” he said. “It’s amazing that there’s notmore damage than there was.”

Heuck’s Retreat Baptist Church Pastor Ken Parvin said theBeasleys had been very brave through the ordeal.

“I was with the Beasleys all day, from five minutes after thetornado hit until about 4:30 yesterday afternoon, and not one timedid the words come out of their mouths, ‘Why has this happened tome? Why did God let this happen?'” Parvin said Friday morning. “Thebright spot in all of this is the strength of their faith; both ofthem are as solid as a rock. They just realize that God is incontrol, and His plans are perfect.”

Sherra Smith said the church had been quite a support system fornot only the Beasleys, but several other members of the church whowere affected by the storm.

“My church was phenomenal with God’s love yesterday,” she said.”I saw his love in every one of the members that came to theirrescue, it was absolutely a beautiful example of God’s love.”

And her son said it was an active effort by some to come up withways they could help, knowing that for the Beasleys and others wholost their homes, there’s not much that makes it feel better.

“We were talking about trying to find a place for them to stay,and a church member had a vacant house, and I believe that’s wherethey’re staying for now,” he said.

Parvin said above all, though, the miracle of life outweighs thedevastation of the storm.

“The only way to explain how Mr. Bill is still walking right nowis that God’s hand was over him in that house,” he said. “When Ifirst drove up and saw the scene, I thought I was going to findthem both deceased.”