Families were assessing the damage after Thursday’s tornado in southern Auglaize County.
FRYBURG — Thursday started as a quiet, rainy day, but tranquility swiftly turned to chaos as storms surged from the west. North of St. Marys, a tornado menacingly bore down on Wapakoneta, triggering the urgent wail of the tornado warning system and sending residents scrambling for safety.
However, fate had a different path planned for Wapakoneta as the tornado veered towards the unsuspecting community of Fryburg in southern Auglaize County. Sirens blared, prompting residents to seek refuge in their basements or bathrooms. Despite the rarity of tornadoes in the Fryburg area, the tempestuous funnel descended upon Glacier Hill Lake, shattering the silence with its deafening roar.
Witnesses described the tornado’s terrifying march through Glacier Hill Lakes, as homes trembled like leaves in the wind, and campers were mercilessly torn asunder. One survivor recounted his harrowing ordeal, barely able to articulate the trauma of his camper flipping over before he escaped the fury of the storm.
“We were in our basement watching stuff fly by,” Dave Rostorfer said. “It sounded like a train was on top of our roof.”
The Rostorfers emerged relatively unscathed, except for damage to their sunroom, fortunate to have narrowly escaped the tornado’s wrath along with their neighbor Bob Elsass.
In the aftermath, tales of devastation emerged. Amy and Kyle Drummond, visiting from St. Marys, found their camper in disarray, pressed against a neighbor’s amidst the wreckage at Glacier Hill Lakes.
As dawn broke on Friday, a wave of solidarity swept through the community. Residents mobilized with trucks, loaders, and unwavering determination to assist those in need. Amidst the rubble of the Gehrlich home, a poignant scene unfolded as volunteers rallied to salvage whatever remnants could be retrieved, offering solace amidst the ruins.
The tornado’s rampage did not cease at Glacier Hill Lakes as it continued its destructive path through the wooded landscape to the east, leaving two houses in ruins, their walls torn asunder.
Reflecting on the ordeal, many residents expressed disbelief that such devastation could strike close to home.
“When you hear about something like this, you think it will never happen to us,” remarked one resident. “We live in Ohio, and that sort of thing happens in Tornado Alley, not here in Fryburg and Indian Lake.”
As the community grapples with the aftermath of nature’s fury, the resilience and unity of the residents stand as a beacon of hope amidst the wreckage, a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
