2 weeks Ago By Sydney Page
When Tiffany Emanuel heard a tornado was approaching her home in Kokomo, Mississippi, she and her family ran out of the house. They were gutted to leave their pets behind. “We had no time to do anything.
We only had time to grab the kids and head in the truck right away,” said Emanuel, explaining that they have five dogs, four cats, two goats, several pigs and chickens, plus two tortoises. “It was literally hitting in minutes.” Powerful storms and winds brought 18 tornadoes ripping through Mississippi on March 14 and 15, killing seven people and injuring dozens.
Hundreds of homes and businesses were wrecked. That evening, on March 15, when Emanuel and her family returned home, they were thankful they’d made it to safety, and that their home was intact. All their pets were accounted for and safe - except their 8-year-old tortoise, Myrtle.
“I was panicked,” said Emanuel, adding that she felt terrible for leaving him behind. While their home was not damaged by the tornado, Myrtle’s backyard dwelling was crushed by a fallen tree..
