Although a tornado can hit with tremendous ferocity, the storm itself generally does not stay long over a particular area. A tornado can arrive, strike, and depart in only a matter of minutes. Once the severe weather has passed, residents must deal with its aftermath; this includes attending to the pressing needs of family, friends, neighbors, and often complete strangers.

First on the Scene: Friends and Neighbors

In many stories of the aftermaths of tornadoes, the first people to arrive on the scene are friends and neighbors whose lives, and perhaps property, had been spared by the storm's fury. In the farming areas of the Great Plains, residents may travel several miles in the tornado's path to see what assistance can be rendered. The willingness to embark on such journeys was particularly important in the days before wide spread communications networks. Since news of a disaster often did...