HARD HIT AREA–Bremen was one of the hardest hit areas in the county by Sunday night’s tornado. Pictured are Ameren crew members on Monday morning working to repair the downed power lines. Next to them is the remains of a building and other debris. For more storm pictures, see page 6A.
In all of his 95 and a half years, Ralph Kipp had never been through a tornado. That changed, not only for him but many others in Randolph County, on the night of Sunday, Oct. 24.
Kipp, who lives on Lehman Drive in Chester, was at home when the storm hit and shared the experience with the North County Newson Monday morning.
He noted that he’s used to the heavy storms, thunder and lightning the area gets. “It doesn’t shake me up,” Kipp said, but added that there was a large amount with this storm and people were made aware of the severity.
As the storm cell crossed the Mississippi River into Chester, Kipp recalled hearing a loud bang or crack. “Something hit the side of the house,” he noted. “It didn’t shake the house, but I realized that was the peek.”
For more information on the recent storm, please see this week’s print edition