Strangers, neighbors help couple recover after August tornado

It’s been nearly three months since a 140 mph tornado barreled through the Lucama countryside. Since then, folks who were affected, including Genesis and Cory Cooper, have been picking up the pieces — one day at a time.

While it’s been a difficult journey, the Coopers said they’ve been blessed beyond measure by strangers and neighbors throughout the recovery process.

“It was above and beyond anything we could have ever imagined,” Cory Cooper said about community support.

The Aug. 8 tornado that spawned from Tropical Storm Debby left a swath of destruction at a church, homes and Springfield Middle School. A man was killed in its wake.

The Coopers’ Scott Church Road home was directly in the tornado’s path. Their roof was blown off. Windows were blown out.

“We had a lot of water damage, too,” Cory Cooper said. “What wasn’t damaged, became damaged.”

Repairs have begun on the Coopers’ home, which was insured. It could take six months to a year before they’re back in their home, they said.

“It’s a long process,” Genesis Cooper said.

‘THEY SACRIFICED THEIR TIME TO HELP US’

The Coopers were in shock following the tornado’s aftermath. They couldn’t even process that an EF3 tornado blew through their home.

“All of the things that we needed … we didn’t even know where to start,” Cory Cooper said. “The community just came in and took over. They came in and cleaned up the yard, cleaned out the house. We would have never been able to figure out what to do.”

If you shop at Food Lion on Tarboro Street, there’s a good chance you know Genesis Cooper. He’s the longtime butcher there. After his customers saw him on the news, they immediately went out to find him and his family.

“They just rode around until they found us,” his wife said. “They didn’t even know the address.”

The Coopers said the grace, kindness and selflessness their neighbors, churches and customers displayed during the hardest time was truly something special.

“Those people could have been anywhere, and they came and helped us out,” Genesis Cooper said. “They sacrificed their time to help us. The love and concern … it restored hope that there are people who really care,” his wife added.

AN UNEXPECTED BLESSING

Immediately after the storm, the Coopers received another unexpected blessing. Their neighbor down the street owns the home directly across from theirs. It was previously used as an Airbnb.

“She pulled the keys out and said, ‘Stay until your house is finished,’” Cory Cooper recalled her neighbor saying. “They day of the storm, we had housing.”

The Coopers said God’s blessings continued that following Saturday. At least 200 people showed up to help clean up. Other community members ensured they had meals for weeks.

“We didn’t even have to cook,” Cory Cooper said.

ALERTS AND TORNADO DESTRUCTION

The Coopers were supposed to leave for a family vacation the morning of the tornado. Cory Cooper was up early packing. That’s when she received a National Weather Service alert.

She said she woke up her husband and son, Mark Lucas. They huddled in the bathroom, underneath a mattress.

“We never expected it to come,” she said. “We’ve had these alerts before. We’ve always gone in there (the bathroom) just in case. But 15 minutes later, it hit.”

She said her son almost passed out from the pressure that built up in the house.

“It was so much pressure,” she said.

Cory Cooper, who is a nurse, said it was terrifying. She said her son’s room was hit the hardest.

“He would have been the person who would have gotten injured the most or even killed,” she said.

The Coopers believe the alerts saved their lives and hope others always adhere to the warnings.

‘SERVE ONE ANOTHER THROUGH LOVE’

The Coopers said they had always helped others and never thought they would have ever been in situation where they needed help.

That’s why they wanted the community to know how thankful they are to every person and church (including Wave, East Gate, Farmington Heights, Spring Hill Presbyterian, Little Rock Original Free Will Baptist and St. Mary’s Original Free Will Baptist) who lent a helping hand in one of the hardest times in their lives.

“I will forever do what they did for us for other people,” Cory Cooper said.

Her husband agreed.

On this particular day, the Coopers stood inside their Scott Church Road home. It’s been stripped down to the studs, and there are still extensive repairs left to complete. But there’s something that gives them hope.

Bible verses that mean a lot to them have been written on studs, beams and rafters. The Coopers aren’t finished adding Scriptures, but one stood out — Galatians 5:13-14.

“Serve one another through love,” it reads. “For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

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