Clearwater-Orchard Students Help With Tornado Clean Up

A dozen Cyclones were in the Pilger area Friday. But, this time, it was to provide help.

Four days after tornadoes ripped through the area, volunteers from Clearwater-Orchard were in the twister's path, cleaning up the debris left behind.

Becky Kerkman, guidance counselor at Clearwater-Orchard, said she approached school administrators about helping those devastated by the tornadoes. They agreed and she made some phone calls.

"I contacted someone at Wisner-Pilger School and found out they had to be 18 and older to get into Pilger," Kerkman said. "They said we could help clean up farm debris, but we needed to come as soon as possible because the farmers want to replant."

A message was sent out to all of the high school students at Clearwater-Orchard. Joining Kerkman in the efforts were Dale and Diane Martin, Zach Martin, Tristan Sanne, Grady Bellingtier, JoBeth and JacKay Humphries, Mallory Cooper, Allison Kerkman, Whitney Rittscher and Kinzly Macke.

On Friday morning, the group reported to Wisner-Pilger High School. They were given a map and traveled to that location. 

"We were right in the path of the tornado," she said. "Looking at Pilger, we saw the backside of the middle school. Someone said, 'This looks like something from Iraq.'"

Out in the fields, the volunteers walked and put the debris in Rangers that were driven beside them.

"We walked one bean field that had debris from a barn that had blown over and a lot of wood splinters from outbuildings," Kerkman said. "I think it hit home with the students a little more when they found pieces of Barbie dolls and Legos."
 
She said some of the wood had been driven into the ground so far, it was difficult to remove.

After working in the fields, the group returned home later that day. Kerkman said the volunteers came away with a new perspective after seeing the destruction first-hand.

"You just don't understand how bad it really is until you are there," she said. "It's devastating."