Jeremy Kappell / Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Stories from '74: Morgan Elementary's Teri Robbeloth (Marshall)

Teri Robbeloth was a third grade teacher at Morgan Elementary in Harrison County Indiana when the mile-wide F5 struck. Her experience with this montrous tornado as she tried to protect the kids.

Mr. Marshall OK. Yes. Friday, April 3rd. Some bad weather. 01:34 Ohh. I was always conscious of whether. I enjoyed weather. I wasn't frightened so much by weather. Until after we experienced it. How strong it can be. So when was your first clue that you had that April 3^rd was going to be a rough day? It was when von Mr. Marshall walked through the hallways telling each one of us quietly. Showing no emotion. He always kept the same. Attitude, you know, he never, he never ever caused any stress. Still, when 02:21he told us to get to our safety spot that there had been sighted a tornado nearby. And do it now. Do it from the 3rd grade room back. We were told to stay away from the double doors up at the end. And it's a good thing because they did open and close and open and close and open and close once we did receive the wind.

What do you word position slightly? I want to take you back real quick. Do you remember the conditions that day, what it felt like outside? Ohh, yes it was. 03:04 It was very warm, unusually warm. It was very humid. We didn't have a a. Air conditioning. At that time, we just had windows to regulate our classrooms. So we would be regulating them so 03:21we were aware that it was hot and steamy. Right. No, absolutely no idea that we would have a tornado. OK. And then go to the moments when Mr. Marshall. Give you guys the news. OK? He told us to go to our safety place. All we had was. The hallways. Missus Brockman was my coworker for 3rd grade. And 03:55 we tried not to frighten the children. We just told them. That there was a tornado nearby. But that's all we knew. But we were going to go out in the hall with our big math book and get in our position, which the children did. Now we did have to check headcount, make sure we didn't have any little ones that had gone to the restroom or had gone to. The cafeteria for something. We had to make sure we had our headcount. But then once we got in position. Then it was just wait time. That the thing that I that I recollect about the kids was how compliant they were. There was no panic, there was no crying, no hysteria. They just did what they were told. And at the same time, I recall that I had no panic. Of my twins being at the other end of the hall, with the 1st grade teachers. Simply because I trusted them the same as I I hope they trusted me with their children.

OK, so he gives you the news. For the user, the kids into the home, they take their positions. What do you hear? when we wait? Well. 05:28 You first hear the wind. And as the wind gets stronger. You begin. To. Tell the children this is the wind coming. You'll be safe under your book. You were constantly encouraging the kids, but at the same time you didn't want to be dishonest with them. It was. 05:54 It was scary when the first one hit because it was so loud and the doors were flapping. And there was nothing we could do but stay in that position. And it probably wasn't a long time that we were in that position, but it was enough that. And they were getting uncomfortable when the teachers were getting uncomfortable and then it and then it got quiet. But we didn't immediately get up because we had not been given the all clear by Mr. Marshall. 06:35 We stayed in our position and it's probably a good thing because. The wind came back. And so we told them the the wind is back. We never said two. We didn't know anything about two tails or that kind of thing until. Years later, I guess. And so we went through that loud noise again, and I can't tell whether one was any louder than the other. To me, it was just let's get this over with. So then it was quiet. 07:14 It sounded like a train there. There's no two ways about it. It sounds like a train. It is very loud. And I'm sure that most of the children could adhere to the teachers trying to encourage them simply because, well, for one thing, they were probably frightened. And at that point, you don't hear much when you're frightened. But. I want to give those children credit. I wish I could recall everyone of their names. Because they weren't hurt. Because everyone listened. And stayed the way they were supposed to.

Excellent. OK, so. When did you know it was over? Well then it was quiet. For a long while. And we still didn't have the all clear yet. But we teachers did tell our little ones Take the book off your head and hold it a minute. Just lean up on your knees. And I recall saying to some of my little ones. Take a deep breath. Take a deep breath. This is over. Take a deep breath. Um, I'm sure some were holding their breath for a while. None of us that I recall had experienced anything like that. But then we got the all clear. I don't know whether it was through a wave through was a a I don't think the loud speakers or anything was working. But we did get the all clear, so we all stood up. Where we were, but we still never left our positions. Not too long after that, we had Winnings packing company, people running in. We had parents running in. So the only time that you saw one of your children become emotional? Is when they saw their mommy or they saw their daddy, but until that point. And they were just little heroes.

Describe the reaction of some of the parents. Ohh they they might tap you on the shoulder and say is anybody hurt? They were concerned for everyone. This is a small community. This community is always been very close knit. But they were concerned, you know, with their own. And may I take my child, may I take my child. And I said, well, you know, always buy rules. You must check out at the office because I won't remember who took who because of after what we've been through. And so they they complied to sign out their students.

You still had an office left? We still had a small spot, yes, where they could sign out and they could. You talked about. However I came to help. What do you remember? Helpers. First, they were concerned about the safety of the children more than anything else, and they didn't mind looking at all of the kids on both sides. And then? After they saw that we were OK. Then. I don't know where they all went.10:55 I know that there was a lot of debris at our windows as the desks were blowing out of our windows. And I also lost my roof and it landed on my station wagon. That. They weren't saying. Anything. They didn't know what to do with the kids. And we just had to wait to be told. And I don't recall going back in that classroom opening that door. I believe we must have. Because there was glass everywhere in there. We must have just sent them home as they were, as I think back, because I didn't go in my classroom until inspectors and people did, because you didn't know how safe it was.

What do you think would you feel when you saw the damage? 11:57 How lucky we were, how God spared all of us and all of our children? And what a nice feeling it was to feel safe in that building. And also personally to feel safe in that building with. My other teachers, the other faculty taking care of mine. Which I had the twins in the 1st and Joseph in the 4th. But every teacher took care of theirs like it was their child. For. When you're in United with your two kids, yes. And the twins finally came up the hall. Once we were turning our kids loose or for the bus routes are for the parents, the twins came up the hall. I don't recall any. Tears or or crying. 12:58 What I recall is a stunned look. Just kind of maybe like a little traumatized, just not sure what happened. That. They still felt safe. Our school and that's that was the thing that Mama lot to the to the teachers.

Anything else you want to share from that day Teri? Yes, as far as the community is concerned. We have an old schoolhouse. It's right above our far apartment. All fire department. We are now going to get a new fire department. That was opened immediately. And preparing for serving three meals a day for I know weeks. And I had an opportunity to be in the bacon fryer at 6:00 AM every morning. And we had food. From Winnings, their bacon was good. They would bring it until. The Red Cross was able to set up up there, as I recall. And then help the people. But we fed. We fed the community three meals a day, but not just the the ones that lost their homes, but all the people that showed up with trucks. And chainsaws to clear and to clean up and support. Our small area.

Excellent. Excellent. Ohh. Anything else I need to ask your wife? No, not everything. She did a great job too. Alright, thank you so much. Well, you're welcome. It was. I want everyone to know how much we appreciated..

-Jeremy Kappell

Meteorologist, Journalist, Writer, Speaker, Broadcaster