This Family Lost Their House to a Tornado

This is the story of the Perrmann family home. Eric, his wife Beth, their four children and dog lost their home to a tree that fell during a tornado in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area in July 2022.

Eric tells the story: "We were home at the time of the storm. We initially sheltered in our first floor laundry room, until we heard a loud BOOM —the sound of the tree falling through our roof — and almost immediately our first-floor ceilings began leaking heavily. It was as if you blinked and woke up in the shower. We moved from the laundry room to the basement, where water continued to pour through our HVAC system. It was as if someone had turned on a garden hose and stuck it in your vent."

The Perrmanns are fortunate to be alive, quite frankly. However, their house was not so lucky. These photos show just a fraction of the devastation to their family home:

Whatever the pictures show, they don't do the damage to the house justice. Their insurance company called it “the worst tree damage we’ve ever seen.” Damage includes zero roof trusses left post-storm;

all ceilings collapsed — wet drywall, wet insulation, wires, lighting fixtures, leaves, sticks, etc. everywhere; all personal belongings trashed;

as well as first and second floors (at a minimum) will have to be completely gutted and rebuilt.

The cleanup has only just begun and the Perrmanns are expected to be displaced for at least a FULL YEAR. Eric and Beth, a local third-grade teacher, are finding a new place to locate and get their children settled into their routines. Band, soccer and cheer practice will be welcome distractions for these four kiddos in the months ahead.

Although Eric and Beth have homeowner's insurance, they've already paid $6,000 up front in deductibles, deposits and other costs they weren't prepared for. Any additional funds raised would go toward basics, such as replacing essential items lost, covering short- and long-term expenses, etc. If you've ever had an emergency or dealt with insurance, you know not EVERYTHING is paid for. Let's help this family get on their feet and feel the love and support of their community!