In a heartbreaking turn of events, Tim Striegel and his daughter narrowly avoided disaster when an EF-1 tornado ripped through their Alabama home on March 15, 2025.
The storm, with winds reaching 125 mph, left a trail of devastation, including the destruction of Striegel’s mobile home.
Striegel, a Calera resident, had been debating whether to evacuate when a call from a close friend prompted action. “He told us, ‘No, you’re not staying. Get to my house and get in the basement,’” Striegel recalled.
Moments after they left for their friend’s house, the tornado struck, leveling their home just minutes after they had left.
Despite the trauma of losing his home, Striegel is thankful that both he and his 31-year-old daughter were unharmed. “The hardest part is trying to make sure me and my daughter have a place to stay,” he said, as he sorted through the wreckage of what was once his home.
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The tornado hit just one day after he had gotten insurance for the property, making the loss even harder to process.
The situation took another turn when Striegel and his daughter found themselves stranded after the storm.
With no place to go, they were rescued by officers from the Calera Police Department who had earlier retrieved their dog from the wreckage.
Striegel and his daughter were eventually taken to the police station, where they sought shelter for the night.
“It was a sad situation, but we tried to make them as comfortable as possible,” said Police Chief David Hyche. With local shelters full and no hotel rooms available, the department converted part of the jail into a temporary refuge for the family and their pets.
Striegel is now focused on rebuilding his life, grateful for his daughter’s safety. “This is just property that can be replaced, but me and my daughter, that’s a blessing,” he said.
