The tragedy has shaken communities across the state, yet amid the heartbreak, recovery efforts press on — with first responders, volunteers, and even local high school students stepping up to help rebuild what was lost.

For Paul and Gail Cline, the storm turned their lives upside down and became a struggle to simply stay alive.

“I see an arm down the hallway”

As the winds howled outside, Paul and Gail held onto each other inside their bedroom — until the twister hit. According to their nieces, Taylor Baker and Brandy Bowman, the force of the tornado was so violent that it ripped off each of their opposite arms while they were still clinging together.

“She said ‘I need help. I see an arm down the hallway,’” Bowman recalled in an interview with Lex18. “Which was actually Gail’s arm that was shredded during the tornado. The