19 years ago today: The Hallam tornado
A tornado swept through Hallam on May 22, 2004, leveling most homes and businesses. Volunteers in surrounding communities including Lincoln came together to help with the cleanup. Do you remember?
Volunteers Mike McMurty of the Red Cross, Jim Casey of Lincoln, Tom Silletto and Tom Stratman of the West Point Fire Department survey the damage to Hallam.
The church bell sit among the remains of the United Methodist Church while cleanup crews continue working in Hallam on May 26, 2004.
Residents of Hallam faced a monumental rebuilding after a tornado hit the community on May 22, 2004.
A U.S. flag flies over the rubble of Curtis McCain's house in Hallam in May 2004.
Alana Sharp, 6, holds her head while being treated by paramedics after being pulled from the rubble of a Hallam mobile home last Saturday. Footage of the girl's rescue was shown on CNN and ABC's Good Morning America. "The tornado bounced on my back," she would later say." But my back is stronger than the tornado."
Railroad cars were derailed by a tornado in Hallam on May 23.
A tornado leveled much of Hallam on May 22, 2004.
Residents walk into the town of Hallam to gather belongings Sunday, May 23, 2004, after a large tornado Saturday night left much of the community in rubble.
Tornado damage near Hallam on Sunday, May 23, 2004.
Heather Jacobsen helps with cleanup in Hallam on May 25, 2004, after a tornado hit the town on May 22.
Hallam's warning siren rests in the rubble after the tornado tore the town up on May 22, 2004.
A home leveled by a tornado near Hallam.
Hallam after being hit by a tornado in 2004.
Jim Depue salvages water boots, a pail, an extension cord and other items from his home on East Street in Hallam. He said "we just got done remodeling the whole thing." Depue would like to rebuild, saying "Hallam's a real nice place."
The Rev. Lorri Kentner celebrates after a backhoe operated by Darrell TeSelle unearths the bell from the remains of the United Methodist Church in Hallam.
Tornado damage near Hallam, as seen Sunday, May 23, 2004.
Jim Depue's uncle, Bob Depue of Kansas City, came to help with tornado cleanup. Jim Depue would like to rebuild the house on East Street, saying "Hallam's a real nice place."
A tornado left a trail of destruction in Hallam in 2004.
Crews from the Lincoln Public Works Department help clean up in Hallam, May 28, 2004, after a tornado hit the town on May 22.
A tornado hit Hallam May 22, 2004, leaving little behind in the small town.
Heather Jacobsen (left) and Tom Hamilton help during the cleanup of Hallam. About 600 volunteers worked in the town Tuesday.
Thomas Sands removes the belongs from what was once a three story home for him and his wife Monica after a tornado blew out the roof and side south side of the house in Hallam.
A televison set sits on a desk of what remains of the grain elevator office in Hallam.
Tornado cleanup still continues in Hallam on May 26, 2004.
Clean up continues in Hallam on May 26, 2004.
Melissa Beck of Lincoln (face shown) hugs childhood friend Dawn Stimple of Hallam early last Sunday as Beck searches for her grandparents at Lincoln's Southwest High School. Beck was later reunited with her grandparents at the school, where many survivors gathered after the storm.
Tornado damage near Hallam. The storm swept through the area May 22, 2004.
Laura Dragoo reflects on surviving the Hallam tornado early Sunday morning after being bused to Lincoln's Southwest High School, where many storm survivors gathered last Sunday.
Cruzer survived the Hallam tornado and went to Lincoln Southwest High School with her owner, Richard Pullman, who lost his house to the storm.
A Hallam man is comforted after getting off a bus at Lincoln Southwest High School early Sunday morning. Dozens of survivors were sent to the school, where the American Red Cross and the Lincoln Fire Department tended to their needs.
John Umland sorts through debris Sunday, May 23, 2004, at his father-in-law's home near Hallam. Umland was looking for the keys to a truck in the rubble.
Rich Raley steps through the remains of his house near Hallam on May 28 after a tornado tore through the town. The storm's aftermath has sparked a call for legislation to ease the property tax burden on people who lose property in a disaster.
Ken and Jacque Fraley look over their tornado-damaged home southwest of Hallam on May 23, 2004. Ken, who escaped injury, was in the basement when the tornado hit on May 22, 2004, knocking down walls around him.
Storm damage near Hallam on May 23, 2004.
Storm damage near Hallam after a tornado struck the area May 22, 2004.
Storm damage near Hallam as seen Sunday, May 23, 2004.
Storm damage near Hallam as seen Sunday, May 23, 2004.
A grain silo was destroyed and a grain truck overturned near Hallam.
Tornado damage in Hallam.
Tornado damage in Hallam.
A tornado leveled homes and businesses in Hallam on May 22, 2004.
“We typically don’t have small supercells inside of a larger rain area,” a weather service official said. “So there were just a couple of pretty unique things about this event.”
Alvaro Torres Salvador's attorney said: "As a burgeoning clean energy giant, Monolith made the decision to place profit over people and expediency over safety."
