Mother saves son from tornado rubble using only his cries

In London, Kentucky, a devastating EF-4 tornado wreaked havoc on May 16, impacting numerous families as they slept. Among them was Tara Hollifield, who was awake when the tornado struck. Unfortunately, an internet outage prevented her from receiving any emergency alerts about the impending danger, leaving her unprepared for the storm's arrival. Amidst the chaos, Hollifield's primary concern was finding her son, Parker, who was only 23 months old. She expressed her fear and uncertainty, stating, "I didn't know if he was dead or alive." Miraculously, she was able to locate him by listening for his cries that echoed through the wreckage of their home. After a harrowing search, she found Parker trapped in the debris and managed to pull him to safety. Despite the frightening circumstances surrounding the event, both mother and son emerged from the ordeal relatively unscathed, though Hollifield did have some minor scratches and bruises. Parker is expected to celebrate his second birthday on May 30. Initially distressed by the tornado, Hollifield noted that her son has gradually returned to his normal self, demonstrating resilience despite the traumatic experience. The tornado, which tragically claimed the lives of 19 people and left 10 others severely injured, has caused widespread suffering in the community. As clean-up efforts continue in Laurel County, reports indicate that local residents, along with people from around the country, have rallied together, providing support in the form of food, water, and assistance with debris removal. Hollifield expressed her gratitude towards the overwhelming response from the community: "They've been amazing," she stated. Many individuals were seen helping neighbors salvage what remained of their possessions, which included items of great sentimental value such as family photographs. In a separate account, photographer Carolyn Kaster captured the poignant moment of a woman retrieving a cherished family picture from the rubble. The photograph illustrates the raw emotions and struggles of residents as they comb through the destruction, trying to hold onto remnants of normalcy amidst the devastation. As Kentucky experiences an uptick in tornado activity, drawing increased attention to the need for effective weather preparedness, Hollifield has vowed to remain more vigilant about storm warnings in the future. This deadly tornado serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of nature and the importance of disaster readiness.