First home rebuilt after deadly Greenfield tornado

GREENFIELD, Iowa — It was a happy morning for Kim Perkins. Her builders Destiny Homes presented her with a welcome basket as she prepared to move in to her brand new home.

Her old home was built in the 1970s, but it was destroyed in the May 21 tornado.

“So glass and fiberglass, insulation was just blowing everywhere,” said Perkins. “It blew all the windows out downstairs.”

Perkins and her mom survived the tornado without a scratch. They went out to look at the damage.

“It was surreal, like a war zone out there,” said Perkins. Her close neighbors’ homes were also gone.

She got some information from her pastor about someone who could help her build a new home. So she went to an information meeting with Destiny Homes.

“Just thought we’d set up just a meeting and just a question and answer type deal if anybody’s interested,” said Dan Sparks of Destiny Homes. “They wanted see what it would take to rebuild. It was shortly after the tornado so it, many people had kind of storm-chaser type questions because they didn’t want to get wrapped up in that.”

“I’m listening to Dan and then I went to the back of the room and I said Jennifer sign me up,” said Perkins.

She chose one of their floor plans with a couple of modifications. She learned the importance of insurance through the rebuild.

“Meet with your insurance agent regularly and make sure you have the coverage that you need,” said Perkins. “I had just taken out this policy in March so I have updated coverage.”

This Sunday night there will be another community-wide meeting to help residents look to the future.

“We have Chris Luhring  coming from Parkersburg,” said Stacie Eshelman, the Greenfield Chamber & Main Street Executive Director. “He was police chief when Parkersburg experienced an EF5 tornado and now he’s a city administrator. He’s been such a great resource for us already.”

The community meeting will take place Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in the high school. A meal will be served beforehand.

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