Hardware store heroism in Mississippi
When disaster strikes, its often the local hardware store that plays a central role in the healing and the recovery and the hope for rebuilding.
That was the case – and continues to be the case—in Amory, Mississippi in the aftermath of the March 24. Amory was just one town in the path of a violent storm that ripped across Mississippi and Alabama. The National Weather Service tallied 20 reports of tornadoes across the two states. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reported 25 deaths.
The store was spared, its electricity remained intact.
“It's kind of a weird feeling that I can’t explain,” owner Lee Nabors said. “Because we’re going to be so super busy the next two years rebuilding the town when so many are struggling and with loss of homes and even loss of loved ones. It's a very strange feeling.”
After the storm rolled through the area, Lee and his wife and co-owner Millette made the 40-mile drive from their home in Houston, Miss., through swaths of devastation. They soon learned that in addition to their store, the homes of the staff escaped the brunt of the damage.
With that knowledge, it didn’t take long for Nabors Home Center to assume the role of recovery center. The store is typically closed on Sundays, but March 26 was not a typical Sunday in Amory, Miss.
“We were able to open up and try to help with needs as far as tarps and water, just basically whatever the people needed at that time,” Millette said “Our staff and crew volunteered to come in to stay open on Sunday. We’re just trying to be there to help them with whatever needs they have, to provide good customer service and to just take care of their needs.”
Nabors Home Center Inc., a Do it Best Member, operates three other locations in central and northeast Mississippi – Houston, Ackerman and Europa.
“We’re just trying to have generators, trying to have tarps, buckets, just all the little things that you don't think about,” she said.
While the Nabors Home Center was playing its role, Lee Nabors was playing his.
A long time disaster recovery volunteer for Chickasaw Baptist Disaster Relief, and more recently Samaritan’s Purse, Lee grabbed his gear – including helmet and chainsaw—and went to work with his volunteer crew. The crew uses the term “chainsaw ministry” to describe what they do at disaster sites.
The Samaritan’s Purse team descends on towns after hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, with tractors, chainsaws and heavy equipment. They clear trees off of people's houses, clear driveways, all the time watching out for live wires and other dangers.
Lee has been on two deployments with Samaritan’s Purse and a crew of about 20 volunteers. “They’re just a wonderful organization,” he said. “Very, very well organized and we really enjoy volunteering with them.”
By coincidence, the organization was called to help in and around Amory following the tornado blitz. The photo above shows Lee in the neighboring town of Wren.
“Whenever you work after a hurricane, everything’s blown over,” Lee explained. “But after a tornado, everything is just all twisted up. It’s very hard to cut the trees and get them down and get them to the road.”
In Amory, most of the damage was trees falling on homes. The recovery will take place, as always, one tree, one house at a time.
“I just love working and getting hot and sweaty,” Lee said. “I enjoy doing it.”
