A TORNADO tore through Piries on Sunday August 25 destroying the dreams of home builder Jed Culican in a freaky 10-minute storm, but he has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from family, friends, neighbours and strangers to help him rebuild with $35,350 raised as of last Monday morning.
What started out as a pleasant Sunday afternoon catch up turned into a frightening experience for Gabrielle Mahoney and her father.
Gabrielle said her dad is still coming to grips with the enormity of the devastation which demolished the home he had been working on that was close to completion but unfortunately uninsured.
The media attention during the aftermath and the avalanche of messages of support while much appreciated has given Jed little time to process what has happened.
Gabrielle said her father is extremely grateful for everyone's kindness but hopes people will understand his need for some space and privacy.
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She counts her blessings that her father and herself, who had been walking around the new home planning the layout only an hour before the storm hit, had moved to the tiny house 100 metres away for a cup of tea.
“The rain started at 5pm, then this 200 metre wide wind tunnel came through and the wind roared around the tiny house,” said Gabrielle.
“We thought the roof was going to come off the tiny house and we were planning to shelter under the bed.
“It was like nothing we had ever seen before in this part of the country.
“Dad suggested we move into the bedroom away from the glass, so we watched from his bedroom window, on the opposite side of the house, as all of the trees snapped, and a big horse truck was flipped onto its side."
The scene that greeted Gabrielle and Jed was one of utter destruction.
Trees were snapped in half and her Dad’s dream house was gutted, leaving him speechless.
“His whole house had been opened up like a can of sardines,” Gabrielle said.
"It was heartbreaking following years of debating whether to build or not, then committing to it, and working so hard over the past few months to see it all gone.
The following day a survey of the property damage revealed roof trusses in the back lane 100 metres from the house, and beyond into the paddock, as well as finless ceiling fans and electrical wiring, installed just days before.
Images of the aftermath of the storm began appearing on social media.
By Monday morning 10 people had turned up at Jed’s property to help with the clean-up.
Gabrielle said there has been so many phone calls and messages.
“There were strangers reaching out, offers of housing, money, food, anything at all,” she said.
“The silver lining is knowing the community has got your back and you are held."
Locals wanted to help, whether they knew Jed or not, so Gabrielle and her siblings decided to set up the Go Fund Me page to help their father rebuild his house.
The page went live on Tuesday night August 27 and by lunchtime the following day had raised more than $10,000.
“Thank you in advance to anyone who is willing to donate, we are so grateful for all of the help and support," said Gabrielle.
“It means so much to us all, and every bit counts in helping Dad rebuild his home,”
Donations can be made at https://gofund.me/adad1487
