
TINA POTTER
Family Finding Full Recovery

Larry and Tina Potter faced the full force of the devastating tornado that struck Mayfield on December 10th, 2021. Their home, directly in the tornado’s path, was severely damaged. In a moment of crisis, they shielded their two grandsons, Justin and John, until the storm passed. After detecting the smell of gas, they walked to the nearest fire station. The scene outside was one of chaos and destruction. The neighborhood bore the scars of the tornado’s fury—a collapsed water tower, a daycare dragged from its foundation and stranded in the middle of the street.
“We lost almost everything,” Tina recalled. “I had just made my third payment on my van when it was destroyed on the 10th. It’s hard to put into words.” The aftermath of the tornado was a challenging period for the Potters. They moved from place to place until they found temporary housing in a donated camper situated in their pastor’s backyard. The search for affordable rentals in the area was a challenge, with many properties either damaged by the storm or too costly.
“We couldn’t find anything we could afford,” Tina explained. “It felt like rental prices had gone way up. There was nothing in the area because the tornado took out a lot. And I didn’t want to move out of the county. I like living in the Graves County and Mayfield area.”
For nearly two years, they made do in the cramped camper. Tina said the hardest part was not having room for the kids to play. They would get out of the camper on nice days, but two little boys needed room to play, and her husband felt like they were “stuck in a tin can.” They found hope when Samaritan’s Purse approved them for a new home in the New Hope Acres community. “We had a lot of people that reached out and helped: churches, the Long Term Recovery Group, and Samaritan’s Purse,” Tina remarked gratefully. While waiting for their new home, they were assisted by a Disaster Case Manager named Heyde, who helped them replace essential items lost in the disaster.
“We needed basic kitchen appliances, towels, and stuff like that,” Tina explained. “Through Long-Term Recovery, Heyde helped us get sheets, blankets, towels, some kitchen appliances, and other stuff we needed. Because I didn’t have any of that. I only had one frying pan and one saucepan. It’s all I had in the camper.” Their new beginning arrived on December 15, 2023, marking over two years since the tornado. The boys were ecstatic, and the Long Term Recovery Group continued to support them in settling into their new home.
“Heyde even brought a ‘Welcome’ mat on the day we received our house, and she brought stuffed animals for the boys. It brought tears to my eyes,” Tina shared emotionally. “It’s the little things that she and the Long Term Recovery Group did just to make us feel more comfortable.”
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Reflecting on their journey, Tina hopes their story inspires others to seek help when needed. “Reach out. Don’t think that other people need it more than you,” she advised. “You need emotional support, and a place to call home. The Long Term Recovery Group reached out and gave me information on where I could have some to talk to. Samaritan’s Purse built me a home. There is always help somewhere.”
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Tina said she is forever grateful to Samaritan’s Purse, her case manager Heyde, the Long Term Recovery Group, and many others for what they have done to help families like hers in Mayfield and Graves County recover.
“We now have a home and a place for the boys to grow up and call home. I love this neighborhood. I’ve met the neighbors on this end on and on that end. I have new neighbors across the street, and when they got their home dedication, I went to welcome them home,” Tina reflected. “Because to me, it’s a community.”