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Tornado Facebook group reunites Winchester storm survivors with discoveries made in the debris

Even Hoosiers who lost almost everything are finding a bright spot in a newly created Facebook group that's serving as a storm victim lost and found.

WINCHESTER, Ind. — Cleanup continues in Winchester as hundreds of neighbors work to recover from Thursday night's tornado.

It's a massive undertaking.

But even Hoosiers who lost almost everything are finding a bright spot in a newly created Facebook group that's serving as a storm victim lost and found.

When the EF3 tornado roared into Randolph County, it sent Rick Simmons running for cover.

"As soon as I'm down in the basement, he's calling me, telling me, you know, it's hit his house," said Rick's daughter, Shaylin Simmons.

Her dad is OK.

But the storm damaged his home, destroyed his backyard sheds and scattered personal mementos stored inside, to the wind.

All of it was lost and, Shaylin thought, likely gone forever.

"I wouldn't have thought to go looking for my stuff because who knows where it's at," Shaylin said.

Credit: WTHR/Kyle Thomas
A tornado caused damage in Winchester, Indiana, on March 14, 2024.

But then, she found a Facebook group full of discoveries made by neighbors in the debris. Some items were found as far away as Ohio.

Included on the page are posts with family photos, an engagement ring, keys, children's art projects. There's even a search for a missing urn with the ashes of a storm survivor's father.

RELATED: Winchester community works to rebuild after devastating tornado damage

Shaylin spotted something on the Facebook group, too.

"I was just scrolling through it, just seeing people's stuff, what could be found, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, that's my daughter. That's my hand. Like those are my pictures!' Just two pictures, but they're mine," Shaylin said.

Credit: WTHR
Shaylin Simmons holds a photo of her daughter from the day she was born that was found in the debris of last week's tornado in Winchester.

The photos of her only child were found in a field a mile away.

"They survived. It has this plastic around it, so probably that's how they survived," Shaylin said. "It's the day she was born."

The pictures are a bit tattered, but they're back with mom.

Reconnecting made her emotional.

"The emotions hit all at once," she said. "Even something as simple as a picture, like, it's just a picture. Everybody else has so many other things that need to be found. I can't even imagine."

RELATED: After devastating tornado, Winchester High School transforms into shelter, donation center

Those stories and those connections will be happening more and more over the next days and weeks, as people sift through the rubble, try to put their lives together and find a piece of someone else's.

It's why the virtual lost-and-found online has a companion in person.

Winchester police now have a trailer behind the police station where people can drop off items they find in the debris.

Officers will log and track the missing items, in hopes of a reunion.

"We have just a couple of things right now," Winchester Police Chief Michael Burk said. "Photos, tools, glassware. If it was me, I would be very thankful and also, you know, relieved. We just want to help our community the best we possibly can."

And after disaster when so much is lost, even one unexpected discovery can ease despair.

That's what happened to Shaylin, who is now holding that baby photo of her daughter close to her heart.

"I don't know what else we'll find, but I got this right now," Shaylin said. "And you know, at least we're all OK. Everyone in the pictures are OK. That's all that matters."

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