Tornado Destroys Family's Dream Home After They Finished 7-Year Renovation: 'So Overwhelming'
Uyama Umana-Hollinshed said she and her wife Vanessa spent seven years renovating their home before it was destroyed by the EF-3 twister on May 16
The couple had only lived in the home for a year before the tornado destroyed their hard work
'I saw our retirement, our every dime we had was flat,' Umana-Hollinshed told ReutersA family spent seven years renovating their dream home in St. Louis. Now, a tornado has torn it to shreds.
It was just after 2:40 p.m. local time on Friday, May 16 when a tornado touched down in Clayton, just outside of the city, according to the National Weather Service.
The EF-3 twister, which had maximum winds up to 152 mph, caused vast amounts of damage and ripped through northern St. Louis.
One of the homes destroyed by the tornado belonged to Uyama Umana-Hollinshed, who told Reuters that she and her wife, Vanessa, spent seven years renovating the home before it was ripped apart.
The couple only enjoyed the three-story home for one year before the storm hit, the St. Louis woman said.
Umana-Hollinshed was out baking pies for a community event when she learned of the tornado. When she returned home, she was shocked to find her home had been ruined.
'We did everything,' Umana-Hollinshed said. She was heartbroken when she 'saw our life's work' in smithereens.
'I saw our retirement, our every dime we had was flat,' she explained.
The tornado that impacted Umana-Hollinshed's home was on the ground for more than 22 miles, according to the NWS.
Umana-Hollinshed's home was one of 5,000 buildings damaged during the powerful spring storms, Reuters reported.
The St. Louis woman said she 'cried all day long, every day' since the twister wrecked her dream home. She never imagined this could happen to her.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
'It's devastating,' Umana-Hollinshed said. 'There's no words, there's no phrase that can accurately describe the feeling of total, just devastation, loss, disappointment, brokenness, confusion, you know, hurt. It's so overwhelming. This is a pain that I can't describe.'
She added, 'I can comfortably say I have never fathomed [this] for anybody, much less myself.'
St. Louis Mayor Clara Spencer declared a state of emergency on Friday in the wake of the deadly storms.
At least 28 people were killed in Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia as a result of the dangerous storms, according to the Associated Press.
Read the original article on People
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
an hour ago
One more sizzling hot day for the eastern US before temperatures plunge 30 degrees
NEW YORK -- A record-smashing heat wave broiled the U.S. East for another day Wednesday, even as thermometers were forecast to soon plunge by as many as 30 degrees in the same areas. The day's heat wasn't expected to be as intense as Tuesday, when at least 50 heat records were matched or broken and 21 places hit triple-digit temperatures. About 127 million Americans remained under National Weather Service heat advisories, down from the previous day. Sizzling temperatures sent utilities scrambling to keep the air conditioning and lights on amid massive demand for power. 'It's still going to be, I think, pretty bad across the East,'' meteorologist Bob Oravec of the Weather Prediction Center said Wednesday morning. 'I think today is probably the last day of widespread record potential. It might not be quite as hot as yesterday by a few degrees. But still, high temperatures are expected in the upper 90s across a good section of the East." The weather service warned of 'extreme heat" for a stretch of the country from North Carolina to New York and west to West Virginia. Highs could approach triple digits from New York to Richmond, Oravec said. Temperatures Wednesday morning were 'a little bit warmer than expected' because of northwesterly winds bringing 'warm leftovers from yesterday,' said former NOAA chief scientist Ryan Maue, a private meteorologist. Nantucket, Massachusetts, was above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) when its forecast high was 82. The high pressure heat dome that has baked the East was forecast to break. A cold front began moving south from New England, bringing with it clouds and cooler temperatures — not only cooler than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), but cooler than normal. That air mass drawing on cool ocean waters will send temperatures plummeting by the end of the week in Philadelphia, which hit a record high of 101 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday, said Ray Martin, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Air temperatures will be in the low 70s Fahrenheit (20s Celsius). 'It's going to feel like a shock to the system, but it's not anything particularly unusual,' said Martin. Boston's forecast high for Friday is 34 degrees lower than what it hit Tuesday. 'It's going to feel like a different season," Oravec said. However, it won't last. After one or two days, slightly hotter than normal temperatures are forecast, but not anywhere near the highs from earlier this week, Oravec said. Weather whiplash from one extreme to another occurs more often as the world warms overall from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, scientists said. Tuesday was likely the peak of the heat, with Baltimore the king of swelter. The city's high of 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 Celsius) smashed a previous record by four degrees. At night, when the human body needs cooling, temperatures only dropped to 87 Fahrenheit (30 Celsius). Baltimore was hardly alone. A dozen weather stations were 101 degrees or higher, including two New York airports. Boston hit 102, breaking its old record by seven degrees. Augusta, Maine's 100-degrees also broke its old record by seven degrees. Every coastal state from Maine to South Carolina hit 100 degrees somewhere, with Georgia and Florida clocking in at 99 on Tuesday. "Generally speaking, the mid-Atlantic areas ... don't have to prepare for extreme heat the way Arizona or Texas do," University of Texas energy engineering professor Michael Webber said in an email. 'So, extreme heat is less familiar and therefore more operationally challenging for them. ... And, they haven't built as many new power plants.' Extreme heat caused the road to buckle in two locations on an interstate highway in northern New Jersey. State transportation officials say the impact on the concrete roadway in Morris County on Tuesday afternoon forced some lane closures as temporary repairs were made. Crews then began work to replace the damaged areas and repave those sections. Some downtown Chicago streets will close Wednesday night to repair pavement that has buckled due to hot temperatures amid an ongoing heat wave in the city. 'Pavement failures or blowouts occur when prolonged high temperatures cause the road to expand and buckle up or blow out, resulting in uneven driving surfaces,' the Illinois Department of Transportation said in a statement. In Chesapeake, Virginia, a heat-related malfunction prompted a bridge to remain stuck in the open position. ___ Isabella O'Malley in Philadelphia; Alexa St. John in Detroit; Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine; Bruce Shipkowski in Trenton, New Jersey; and Christine Fernando contributed to this report. ___
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
One more sizzling hot day for the eastern US before temperatures plunge 30 degrees
NEW YORK (AP) — A record-smashing heat wave broiled the U.S. East for another day Wednesday, even as thermometers were forecast to soon plunge by as many as 30 degrees in the same areas. The day's heat wasn't expected to be as intense as Tuesday, when at least 50 heat records were matched or broken and 21 places hit triple-digit temperatures. About 127 million Americans remained under National Weather Service heat advisories, down from the previous day. Sizzling temperatures sent utilities scrambling to keep the air conditioning and lights on amid massive demand for power. 'It's still going to be, I think, pretty bad across the East,'' meteorologist Bob Oravec of the Weather Prediction Center said Wednesday morning. 'I think today is probably the last day of widespread record potential. It might not be quite as hot as yesterday by a few degrees. But still, high temperatures are expected in the upper 90s across a good section of the East.' The weather service warned of 'extreme heat' for a stretch of the country from North Carolina to New York and west to West Virginia. Highs could approach triple digits from New York to Richmond, Oravec said. Temperatures Wednesday morning were 'a little bit warmer than expected' because of northwesterly winds bringing 'warm leftovers from yesterday,' said former NOAA chief scientist Ryan Maue, a private meteorologist. Nantucket, Massachusetts, was above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) when its forecast high was 82. Weather whiplash The high pressure heat dome that has baked the East was forecast to break. A cold front began moving south from New England, bringing with it clouds and cooler temperatures — not only cooler than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), but cooler than normal. That air mass drawing on cool ocean waters will send temperatures plummeting by the end of the week in Philadelphia, which hit a record high of 101 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday, said Ray Martin, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Air temperatures will be in the low 70s Fahrenheit (20s Celsius). 'It's going to feel like a shock to the system, but it's not anything particularly unusual,' said Martin. Boston's forecast high for Friday is 34 degrees lower than what it hit Tuesday. 'It's going to feel like a different season,' Oravec said. However, it won't last. After one or two days, slightly hotter than normal temperatures are forecast, but not anywhere near the highs from earlier this week, Oravec said. Weather whiplash from one extreme to another occurs more often as the world warms overall from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, scientists said. Records smashed Tuesday was likely the peak of the heat, with Baltimore the king of swelter. The city's high of 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 Celsius) smashed a previous record by four degrees. At night, when the human body needs cooling, temperatures only dropped to 87 Fahrenheit (30 Celsius). Baltimore was hardly alone. A dozen weather stations were 101 degrees or higher, including two New York airports. Boston hit 102, breaking its old record by seven degrees. Augusta, Maine's 100-degrees also broke its old record by seven degrees. Every coastal state from Maine to South Carolina hit 100 degrees somewhere, with Georgia and Florida clocking in at 99 on Tuesday. 'Generally speaking, the mid-Atlantic areas ... don't have to prepare for extreme heat the way Arizona or Texas do,' University of Texas energy engineering professor Michael Webber said in an email. 'So, extreme heat is less familiar and therefore more operationally challenging for them. ... And, they haven't built as many new power plants.' Extreme heat caused the road to buckle in two locations on an interstate highway in northern New Jersey. State transportation officials say the impact on the concrete roadway in Morris County on Tuesday afternoon forced some lane closures as temporary repairs were made. Crews then began work to replace the damaged areas and repave those sections. Some downtown Chicago streets will close Wednesday night to repair pavement that has buckled due to hot temperatures amid an ongoing heat wave in the city. 'Pavement failures or blowouts occur when prolonged high temperatures cause the road to expand and buckle up or blow out, resulting in uneven driving surfaces,' the Illinois Department of Transportation said in a statement. In Chesapeake, Virginia, a heat-related malfunction prompted a bridge to remain stuck in the open position. ___ Isabella O'Malley in Philadelphia; Alexa St. John in Detroit; Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine; Bruce Shipkowski in Trenton, New Jersey; and Christine Fernando contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
Heat Domes and Surging Grid Demand Threaten US Power Grids with Blackouts
Key takeaways: The National Weather Service issues an extreme heat warning affecting almost 150 million people across the US. Heat domes are to blame. Parts of the US -- including the Midwest, New England and Texas-Louisiana -- face blackout risks during high-demand periods like summer heat waves. Electricity demand is a primary challenge across the US due to factors like new data centers, electrification and industrial activity. Regional grid risks vary: The Midwest faces plant retirements, the Southwest struggles with extreme heat, Texas has solar reliability concerns and New England has low energy reserves. Experts recommend preparing for a blackout by making a plan, stocking up on supplies, signing up for utility alerts and exploring backup power options. The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning impacting nearly 150 million people across the US. A heat dome phenomenon is named as the primary cause, weather reports say. This increased demand for cooling is pushing electricity grids to their limits. The latest NERC report highlights several North American regions at risk of grid reliability issues, largely due to insufficient energy supply during above-average demand periods, such as heat waves that drive up AC use. Power outages aren't something most people think about until they happen. And when they do, they can be an extreme inconvenience or even unsafe -- especially when you're trying to cool your home during the hot summer months. For folks that work from home, the risk of getting knocked offline can also be a serious concern. Can solar panels save you money? Interested in understanding the impact solar can have on your home? Enter some basic information below, and we'll instantly provide a free estimate of your energy savings. No lenders found matching this criteria It looks like we couldn't find any lenders that matched the provided criteria. Please try again at a later time. Close Power outages, blackouts or brownouts can happen anywhere. But you're more at risk if you live in one of the areas facing an elevated risk of energy shortages this summer, according to the latest seasonal grid reliability assessment from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. The latest NERC report warns that several North American regions could face grid reliability issues due to limited energy supply during high-demand periods, such as heat waves that spike AC use. NERC This year's summer grid outlook has shifted since last year, with larger swaths of the Midwest and central US falling under an elevated risk of energy shortage and blackouts during extreme heat events. Meanwhile California, Arizona and New Mexico are no longer at higher risk like they were last year. NERC's 2025 report says much of the Midwest and central US, New England and the region from Texas to Louisiana are at risk during higher-than-normal peak demand. Saskatchewan in Canada has a higher risk as well. The latest NERC reports suggest new resource additions like solar and battery storage are helping to meet surging load growth. NERC According to NERC's 2025 Summer Reliability Assessment, aggregated peak demand is forecast to increase across all 23 assessment areas by 10 GW. New data centers, electrification and industrial activity are contributing to higher demand forecasts, per the report. NERC The chances of blackouts in your area This year's higher-risk regions are slightly different from last year's report. Some regions have fallen off the high-risk map, while others have been added because they are struggling with increased demand and not enough supply. Considering Solar Panels? Our email course will walk you through how to go solar By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe at any time. "While the grid faces several challenges this summer, areas such as Texas, California, and across the US West have seen an influx of battery energy storage systems in recent years, which is reducing energy shortfalls associated with supply variability and demand spikes," said Mark Olson, NERC's manager of Reliability Assessments, in a statement. Skyrocketing electricity demand, however, is the primary challenge across the US this summer. "Peak demand is forecast to increase across all 23 assessment areas by 10 GW -- more than double the increase from 2023 to 2024," according to NERC. This is thanks to new data centers, electrification, and industrial activity. Considering Solar Panels? Our email course will walk you through how to go solar By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe at any time. The grid is at risk for different reasons in different places, NERC reports. In the Midwest, the retirement of older power plants could create a shortfall during periods of peak demand. In parts of the Southwest, high heat drives demand while at the same time forcing some power generation offline. In Texas, solar resources could create vulnerabilities when demand is high but generation is low. And New England has fewer power reserves going into this summer, while demand is expected to rise with high temperatures. Power outages have been more common in recent years, though they're down from their peak in 2020. In 2022, the most recent year with available data, the average American household had its electricity supply interrupted for five and a half hours, according to the Energy Information Administration. Over half of that time was due to "major events," typically extreme weather. NERC's report focuses on the risk of demand outstripping the power supply. Air conditioning can represent major demand on the grid, and the need for AC is only increasing. 2024 was the hottest year on record, according to NASA, which recorded 15 consecutive months of record-high temperatures. 2025 is not expected to be quite as warm as 2024, but will probably land pretty close to the all-time heat records. Climate change is the widely accepted reason for our warming planet -- fueled by the burning of fossil fuels for energy. But experts say there are ways we can prepare. How to prepare for blackouts, power outages or a heat wave If you live in a high-risk area or a region prone to severe weather or natural disasters like wildfires or hurricanes, preparing for a blackout is a smart move. Here's how.
