‘I’ve lost everything’: Woman living in car after tornado destroyed her longtime home
ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) - A Missouri woman is now living in her car after a tornado swept through Friday and destroyed her home, leaving her with nothing.
Gwen Hudgins had lived in her home in North St. Louis for more than 30 years before it was leveled by a fast-moving EF3 tornado, leaving her memories buried under rubble.
“I raised my son here, so this is life, this is life,” she said. “This is my life history.”
Hudgins and her son were at home Friday afternoon. She said she was sitting in front of the house on her computer while her son was in his room in the back.
“I didn’t hear any sirens,” she said. “I didn’t hear any sirens at all.”
Once the rain and hail began to fall, Hudgins said she heard her son call out from the back of the house.
“I could tell by the way he was yelling that something was wrong,” she said. “We made it to the front hall, and I grabbed for the door to open it up and the wind just slammed it back and knocked us back and everything just came on us.”
Hudgins said moments later, the pair were thrown through a wall, landing in the side yard as debris swirled above their heads.
“We just lay there for a bit because everything was just whipping around in the air,” she said.
When they were able to get up, the two made it to a neighbor’s house before realizing the extent of the damage.
Her home was reduced to rubble and appeared to be completely unrecognizable from just moments before.
“I took good care of my yard and I decorated for every holiday,” she said. “I have so many memories in this home and I’ve lost everything.”
The family’s three cars, including a pickup truck, were damaged by fallen trees.
Hudgins and her son are now sleeping in their cars, which are covered by tarps after the strong storm winds blew out the windows.
“The little stuff that was in the house, or whatever, you’ve got to try to protect it,” she said. “So we’re staying here right next to it. Our things are underneath tents to try to keep them safe and dry as well.”
Hudgins said community groups and volunteers have been stopping by, offering food and other resources as she tries to get in with family .
Without insurance, she isn’t sure what comes next.
“I’ve lost everything, my husband was a veteran and he died from cancer, so it’s just me and my son,” she said. “But we will get through this somehow.”
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