The evening began quietly, with distant thunder that “sounded ordinary enough,” giving no warning of what was coming. Within moments, calm turned to shock as the sky erupted and “everything would change.”

Hail suddenly poured down with brutal force. “The sky suddenly erupted, unleashing a barrage of hail that slammed into homes with shocking force,” turning rooftops and streets into targets. The noise was terrifying, “like fists pounding relentlessly from above.”

The destruction escalated fast. “Hailstones the size of golf balls—and in some areas as large as baseballs—crashed onto cars,” shattering windshields and damaging homes. As lightning flashed, “roofs shuddered under repeated impacts, walls trembled, and the air felt charged with danger and disbelief.”

When the storm passed, the town barely recognized itself. Ice covered the streets, branches and debris were everywhere, and the silence felt heavy after the chaos.

Yet relief followed quickly. “Despite the damage, relief spread quickly as residents realized most people were safe.” Neighbors checked on each other, cleared sidewalks, and shared tools. Though the storm left broken glass and damaged roofs, it revealed something stronger: “In the face of sudden chaos, the community discovered its strength—and that realization will last far longer than the repairs.”