One year ago on Saturday, a tornado ripped through Gaylord, killing two people and damaging the livelihoods of many more. And as the residents prepare to mark the grim anniversary, many are focusing on how the community rebounded.
In downtown Gaylord, there are only a few signs of physical damage left. The shops are reopened, the homes repaired, the trees replanted. Heading into the weekend, many residents are focusing on healing the damage they can’t see.
“Everybody had their own story for that day,” said Jackie Haag, emergency dispatch director at the Michigan State Police post in Gaylord. “We can't make somebody walk again, and we can't get those lives back that were lost. … Those are the kinds of things that we remember and those are the things that we just can't forget.”
She’ll be sharing her tornado story with an audience Friday night in hopes of inspiring others to work through their trauma.