CHRISTINA HENLEY
There’s No Place Like Home
.jpg)
When asked to describe the night of December 10, 2021, when an EF-4 tornado devastated her neighborhood, Christina Henley replied, “Where do I start?” She, her husband Jason, and one of their twin sons, along with his girlfriend, were in their pajamas watching the news. They knew a storm was approaching, but nothing could have prepared them for what came next.
As meteorologists tracked the storm’s growing strength, they named roads in its path. “The last one I heard was Hopewell Road, about half a mile from us,” Christina recalled. “That’s when I panicked and told everyone to get into the master bedroom closet. I had barely sat down when it felt like the house was shifting. The pressure felt like it could make your head explode. The last thing I remember was my husband saying, ‘Well, there goes the house.’”
Christina believes they all blacked out after that moment, as no one recalls what happened next. The tornado had lifted them, tossing them 200 feet across their above-ground swimming pool. The tornado split their home in two: one half ended up by the pond, the other in three trees in their front yard. “That probably saved us,” Christina said. “So that’s where we built our new house—right beside those trees.”
.jpg)
Christina recalled, “I was trapped under a wall. I remember the darkness and stillness. It was eerily quiet. Her husband worked relentlessly to free her and eventually succeeded, something they both believe was “a God thing.” When she was finally freed, Christina struggled to breathe. Later, she learned she had a broken rib, a collapsed lung, and seven fractured vertebrae. She also required stitches on her face. Jason’s shoulder was injured, and their son and his girlfriend had scrapes and bruises.
​
When the storm passed, nothing looked familiar. They were unable to identify where they were in the wreckage. With emergency services overwhelmed, they were on their own until Christina’s other son arrived. “We could hear trucks coming. It was that quiet. They drove over power lines to reach us,” she said.
.jpg)
As they sifted through the debris, they found a family picture with just a few scratches, along with quilts from both of their great-grandmothers—precious keepsakes now displayed in their new home. “We’re still pulling things out of the pond,” she added. Jason noted, “The boat was upside down, not sure where my shop went, and four vehicles, including my semi, were totaled.”
​
Christina spent a week in the hospital with no access to news due to the power outage. Jason stayed by her side as much as he could, but he also had to leave each day to work. Once she was discharged, they lived in friends’ furnished basement for two months before moving into a temporary home. After a year, they moved onto their property in a camper while their new house was built.
​
Despite the devastation, the Henleys didn’t receive assistance from FEMA. Thankfully, the American Red Cross and various churches, including some from abroad, helped significantly. “The churches that bought furniture for our home took a lot of pressure off,” Christina shared.
Recovering from the loss brought long-term challenges. “Replacing everything was overwhelming,” she said. “Prices were much higher than what we had insured. It was a shock to start over.” Jason needed a new semi and shop, but was unable to work for two months due to the difficulty of finding one, while Christina’s injuries limited her mobility.
​
Christina was connected to the Mayfield Graves Long-Term Recovery Group (MGC LTRG) after posting on Facebook, seeking help from Samaritan’s Purse to install a storm shelter. The MGC LTRG reached out and encouraged her to get screened for case management, with their case management partner TWKUMC. “They helped with medical bills,” she recalled. “My husband and I were both out of work for a time, but the bills continued to come in. The MGC LTRG also helped with reimbursing us for damage to my son’s truck, and we were able to get a storm shelter.”
.jpg)
Christina credits her faith and church community with helping her cope. “If it wasn’t for God, we wouldn’t be here. There’s no reason we should have survived other than Him,” she said. She also expressed deep gratitude to her husband, kids, friends, and her spine doctor and staff, who nicknamed her “Dorothy” and even gifted her ruby red shoes with a note of encouragement.
​
Reflecting on the aftermath, Christina said, “It was like a smaller version of 9/11. Everyone wanted to help.” The experience reshaped their perspective. “You’re not the same person after something like that. We take vacations, have more family get-togethers, and do things now because you never know if tomorrow is promised. We cherish life more.”
Her advice for others facing similar situations is clear: “Anything is possible. It’s a tough road, but it’s worth it. There were many days we wanted to give up, and the obstacles felt huge, but we made it and have our family and our home.”