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Xenia, Ohio
- Tornado - April 3, 1974
Rick Hoag's Story
On that fateful day, I was
a young boy of 8 years old. We lived in the Arrowhead Subdivision. That
afternoon I was around the corner playing with some neighbor kids. I
thought I could hear my father calling me, so I ran back to the house.
Thinking back now, there is no way I would have been able to hear him.
I was too far away for a voice to have traveled in the afternoon noise.
Besides, Dad had a very bad case of toncilitis that day. Like I was
saying, I went back home and got through the door just in time to answer
the ringing phone. On the other end [of the phone] was my Mother. Mom
was working. She told me she heard a bad storm was on the way. She told
me to make sure the garage door was shut and to stay inside. After I
hung up the phone, I settled down to watch The Dennis the Mennis Show.
(syndicated reruns) To this day I can vividly remember the electricity
going out. I looked out the large picture window in the living room
and didn't have a clue as to what I was looking at.
Dad was asleep on the couch,
so I woke him up to look. Dad looked and said to get into the bathroom.
We sat on the floor. Dad had his back to the door and his feet pushing
against the wall opposite the door. I remember that as soon as we sat
down, the windows broke. Glass blew under the door, and the sound was
tremendous. I know it really didnt take too long for the tornado to
go past, but I do remember the conversation we had in the process. I
could feel the cool air rushing under the floor through the crawlspace
vents. I asked if we were flying. He said he wasn't sure, but he didn't
think we were. He said the house was tearing apart. I asked him how
he knew. He said he just knew it was.
When things calmed down,
we opened the door. The odd feeling I had, looking up the street from
inside what once was my hallway, is still with me today.
I think back often to that
day. I think back and wonder what would have happened if my Dad hadn't
been sick that day. Like alot of kids, I stayed home by myself after
school back then. I seriously doubt I would be able to tell you my story,
if I had been alone that day. I still live in Xenia and wouldn't trade
this town for any other.
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