Dear Doves,
 
Wanted to let everyone know we are ok after the Colonial Heights tornado. This is within 6-7 miles of our house. The tornado came over our area but by that time the funnel cloud had gone back up so it did no damage to our house, by the grace of God. Thank you to everyone who prayed for us and those in Suffolk and Brunswick. 
 
In August 1993 my husband was actually in the Walmart when that tornado hit. The windows in his truck in the parking lot were not broken but did have pock marks from the flying debris. Also not as many vehicles were turned over then as happened yesterday. However from the damage done then that tornado was probably an F3. The one in our area yesterday was an F1.
 
Two elderly members of our church were trapped in the Walmart in 1993 in the back of the building behind where the roof collapsed. My husband and an elderly man did not make it that far back so were not trapped. Bob helped pull bodies from the rubble so don't believe the FEMA lies about only four deaths. People who did not die in Walmart died later that evening in the emergency rooms.
 
As they realized they could not find a way out our friends called over the rubble to Walmart employees to ask if there were any ways out thru the back of the building. They were told "no" that they would have to wait to be rescued. Miraculously none of the merchandise on the tall shelves had fallen on them. In their same isle they came across another lady who was hysterical. Edith shook her and told her God was going to get them out.
 
They all made their way to the back wall of the building where they found a large black gentleman leaning against the wall with his arms folded. Edith asked him if he knew a way out. He nodded and spread one arm out over the wall. The three made their way thru the doorway into a fenced in enclosure on the back of the building. As Edith turned to thank the man he was gone and there was nothing but a solid wall--no door! Edith told her husband and the other lady that they had just been helped by an angel. (Not mention they had walked thru a solid wall).
 
After finding these things out I called Walmart's home office to verify that at that time they did not have exits at the rear of their buildings. A lady confirmed this to me. She did say in the future exits would be added because of what happened in that Walmart. Before the clean up began a friend of mine went on the interstate to take a picture of the damage to Walmart. In the picture you can clearly see there are NO exits on the back of the building. The new Walmart that was built a few hundred yards away does indeed have rear exits. A Sam's Club was built over the place where the old Walmart had been which is in the same shopping complex as was hit Monday. 
 
All glory and praise to God for sparing many lives in His mercy...
 
As the news reports have said this is the third time a tornado has hit this shopping center. People here are wondering what is "drawing" tornados to this same place. I have heard about Native American burial grounds there but I have no confirmation of that. I do know they did live in this entire area during Colonial times and before. Arrow heads are easily found in our non developed areas.
 
I was so encouraged by the many officials in Colonial Heights and especially Suffolk who expressed that it was God alone who spared us from more damage. Isn't it amazing when disasters happen that "political correctness" goes out the window? One police chief said it was only because of God that no people were found to be trapped in their homes. I applaude their courage to say this on camera and may God protect them from the criticism to come.
 
Thanks To All,
Shelva