New Ross residents help tornado victims

NEW ROSS, Ind. (WISH) - A day after a tornado struck the small Montgomery community of New Ross, residents joined forces to begin the cleanup.

The National Weather Service on Wednesday confirmed it was indeed a tornado that hit New Ross , about 30 miles northwest of Indianapolis.

It took Mother Nature only seconds to destroy a lifetime of work and memories.

“Everything I worked for was scooting across the field, so it kind of hurts,” said New Ross resident Jeff Linn.

• PHOTOS | View damage from the air

Linn said he was on the phone with his wife when the tornado hit. She had to run to the basement for cover.

“She said, ‘Got to go.’ Well, it’s raining real hard, she's got to close a window or something; 10-15 minutes later she called me and told me to get home,” Linn said.

The family's barn was destroyed by the 100 mph winds, and their house is no longer livable. But Linn said there is no time to dwell on his loss. Instead it’s back to work as friends and neighbors help pick up the pieces.

“I can’t express how much it means,” Linn said. “We do this for each other. We had several neighbors the last several years that something’s happened. We’re always there to help.”

Neal Himes, a fellow farmer and neighbor, was one of many New Ross residents who dropped everything to help. He said the small town has seen its share of destruction at the hands of Mother Nature.

“You would hope somebody would do that for you if it happened to you. It’s just a community thing. You’re there to just try to help him,” he said.

A second house near the Linns’ was also damaged by the tornado, but there were no injuries associated with the storm.