A mobile home community in Mt. Vernon saw significant damage that has displaced several families in the area after Tuesday's tornado.
MOUNT VERNON, Ind. (WEVV)Ìýâ€� People in the Ponderosa Mobile Home Community say they’ve never seen anything like it, as many watched in pure fear as the tornado headed straight toward them.
Charles Johnson says, "We just looked up in the sky and we just seen it coming. We just seen it coming.�
Like Johnson, many said the tornado sounded like a freight train over them that ripped through their community.
The Tuesday evening tornado damaged several homes in the mobile home park causing damage to roofs, walls, and cars.
Several trees and light poles also collapsed in the storm.Ìý
As several in the mobile home park saw the tornado heading right toward them they sought shelter where they could.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported at the mobile home park, but many homes remain unlivable.Ìý
The Milligan family lives in the Ponderosa Mobile Home community and they tell 44News that their home was moved from their foundation and collapsed trees caused them to get trapped in the home.Ìý
Kenny Milligan says, "You couldn’t even get back out of the house because the trees were down everywhere.�
Milligan says that wasn't able to leave the home physically was his wife, who had suffered a stroke a few weeks prior.Ìý
Milligan says that if it wasn't for firefighters, who responded immediately after the storms, they wouldn't have been able to get her out.Ìý
“If it wouldn’t have been for them, there’s no way we would've got her out the house,â€� says Milligan.Ìý
Like the Milligan family, several families in the Ponderosa community are left without a home.
Even with losing so much, they say they’re just grateful for everyone who’s immediately stepped in to help.
Randall Simon, the property manager for the Ponderosa Mobile Home Community, says, “Everyone I know that lives here, even the ones that have taken a total loss, you know they’ve all been helping. They’ve all done their part.�
The American Red Cross is stationed at the Mount Vernon Junior High School for families seeking shelter after the tornado.
