F2 Tornado strikes Griffith.

I made my way out to Griffith to check on my own house and then to check on my future neighbors and tell their story. Sadness, pain, grief, joy, relief and amazement were some of the emotions expressed around me. I also got the chance to go up in a small helicopter to shoot aerials, not something I've ever done before in a chopper.


Jeff Jelenski of Griffith stands near his pool and takes in the damage to his home while trying to clean-up Tuesday in Griffith. Severe storms blew through NW Indiana Monday night ripping off his roof and blowing his garage to the next block.

An american flag hangs in the front window of the Jelenski residence Tuesday evening after an EF2 tornado tore through Griffith Monday night.

Jamie Williams of Crown Point tosses a piece of wood onto a large pile of debris as he helps Jim Guevara clean-up Tuesday evening after an EF2 tornado tore through Griffith Monday night.

Pat Nashkoff drags a tree limb to the street as she cleans-up her home Tuesday in Griffith. Nashkoff received damage to her roof and siding during the storm.

Stores at the northeast corner of Cline and Ridge Road had their windows blown out and walls compromised Tuesday in Griffith after a severe storm blew through NW Indiana Monday night.

Dan Downing of Cedar Lake, right, and Ziggy Dross of Griffith move a television out of the devastated living room of Peggy Farrell of Griffith Tuesday morning after a severe storm blew through NW Indiana Monday night and tore off her roof causing severe damage to her home.

A dog looks out its front window as clean-up begins Tuesday in Griffith after a severe storm blew through NW Indiana Monday night.

Debris floats in the Jelenski family pool Tuesday after an EF2 tornado tore through Griffith Monday night.

I'll post a full roundup of Santa vs Tornado photos later.....






These next few are from the helicopter excursion.









(These are storage lockers-the 10'x10' kind- the roof was torn off the building)