Ashley and Troy Thomas were home making dinner last fall when their phones flashed a warning: A tornado was heading to Mullica Hill. Ashley grabbed the couples’ 2 young girls and took cover in the basement. Troy lingered by the stove, monitoring the skies. When he saw a massive funnel cloud, he ran into the basement to huddle with his family.
Seconds later, the house was gone.
“I looked up and there was sky,” says Ashley. “From the basement, there was nothing over us.”
The Thomas’ recollections are among 20 oral histories featured in an exhibit on last September’s historic twister at the Harrison Township Historical Society through Dec. 4. The free exhibit also includes photos, video and artifacts that tell the story of the storm that destroyed 39 homes and its aftermath. For more information, visit harrisonhistorical.com.