JOHN LAWSON
A Veteran’s Journey to Full Recovery
When asked to describe the night of the tornado, John Lawson says it reminded him of his days spent parachuting in the military. “That’s what the trees reminded me of as they were flying through the air as the wind picked them up,” John said. The night that the December 10th, 2021 tornado tore through Mayfield, KY, John had a friend at his house. With barely enough time to react, his friend managed to put a helmet on her daughter and grab their dog before the entire house started to shift.
They all huddled together in the bathtub as the storm struck. Outside, transformers exploded, and suddenly they could feel the wind inside the house. In a terrifying moment, the tornado began sucking John out of the bathroom. His friend, able to clasp her hands around his neck, battled the force of the wind and pulled him back into the bathtub.
When the storm finally passed, they remained in the bathtub, trapped by a large tree blocking the bathroom door. They shouted for help, and a man outside heard them. With his assistance, they were freed. Once they emerged, they were met with an overwhelming sight—the only part of the house left standing was the bathroom where they had sought refuge. Although no one was injured, the realization of the destruction was devastating. In just a few minutes, John had lost nearly everything—his house, furniture, appliances, clothes, personal belongings, and more.
Amazingly, amidst the rubble, they found a few precious items intact: John's military class photo, his uniform, and a framed puzzle of The Last Supper, glass and all, undamaged.
In the aftermath, John faced an uphill battle. Much of the city had been destroyed, making it difficult to find housing. He lived with his son for a year and a half before securing a place to rent. Support was hard to come by at first, but eventually, Reverend Hussey, local churches, and community members provided much-needed assistance with food and supplies. John noted that while some community members rallied to support those in need, not everyone had good intentions. "Some people who were supposed to be helping with the cleanup were actually stealing from tornado victims," he said with frustration.
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Nearly a year and four months after the December 10th, 2021 tornado, John was connected to the Mayfield Graves Long-Term Recovery Group (MGC LTRG). Reflecting on the support he received, he said, "They talked to us and wanted to pray for us. They were straight up."
Through the Mayfield Graves LTRG, John was assigned a Case Manager with TWKUMC, who helped him complete the steps to get his home rebuilt. John was approved, a new home was built by TWKUMC, and he was recently able to move in. In addition to a new home, John also now has a storm shelter he can go to in the case of severe or dangerous weather.
John offers some advice to people who may find themselves in a similar situation. “I always point up over the fireplace and tell people to pray,” he says. “Be careful who you trust—not everyone is out to do good after a tragedy.” Reflecting on the experience, he adds, “I hate that it took something like this to bring people together, but it did.”