TORNADO TRAUMA
Meet a real-life survivor who knew whom to call for help when the going got rough. Luke Carpenter was sucked up by a tornado and lived to tell about it.

by Luke Carpenter as told to Lisa Freeman

I love storms. I saw a tornado when I was 9, right in front of my dad’s truck on the highway. I decided right then that I wanted to be a storm chaser.

Growing up in Hopkinsville, Ky., we had our fair share of storms and at least one tornado per year. They hardly did any damage, though. I even slept through a twister that hit my grandpa’s farm when I was 9.

I didn’t sleep through the tornado that hit our house when I was 14, though. It was April 2, 2006. I went to bed early but woke up in shock as my bedroom blew apart. The walls collapsed around me. A deafening noise like the sound of a jet airliner pierced my ears. The smell of rain, mortar and insulation burned my nose. Before I knew what was happening, I was sucked into the air, spinning and flipping as if I was on some crazy roller coaster. Lightning lit up the swirling black cloud around me. I thought I was having a nightmare.

Then, as fast as it had sucked me out of my room, the twister thrust me to the ground. Everything got quiet.

Am I dead? I thought.

I looked around. It was pitch black. Then lightning flashed, and I could see my house. I got up and ran as fast as I could.

“Let me in!” I screamed as I pounded on the door. A few seconds later, my mom and dad appeared in the doorway. Right as I stepped inside the house, the porch awning collapsed. If I had been standing there one second longer it would have crushed me.

I thank God, not only for saving me from an F3 tornado, but also for saving my soul. My heart wasn’t right with Him that night. I had gone to church all my life, but I never knew what being saved was all about.

Several months ago I accepted Jesus as my Savior. Now I live for Him every day, even at school. Some of my friends might think I’m a little geeky. That’s OK, because now I know my purpose in life isn’t to be a storm chaser—it’s to be a God chaser.

WHEN NATURE ATTACKS

Most of us think bad stuff happens only to other people. Some people know better, especially the four survivors whose stories you’re reading. They know life can change from tranquil to terrifying in a heartbeat. Some survived by taking quick, informed action. Some were helped by others. Some were just plain lucky—or supernaturally protected. All four did one thing right, though: They knew to call on God for help when things went bad and to trust Him day-to-day even when everything was OK. What would you do in one of these situations? What should you do? Read on! TRUE TALE ONE: GATOR GRAB TRUE TALE TWO: TORNADO TRAUMA TRUE TALE THREE: CAT COMBAT TRUE TALE FOUR: LETHAL LIGHTNING