WINTERSET, Iowa — Thirty-one days later, the evidence of a violent tornado is still very evident across Madison County. Trees debarked, houses destroyed, and lives changed forever.
But the amount of heroism the past month has been equally as astonishing.
Volunteers and first responders alike have been out at sites across the county, particularly in the hardest-hit area just southwest of Winterset almost every day.
"There were firemen from New Sharon, Iowa that were there that night. I don't even know where New Sharon is," Madison County Sheriff Jason Barnes told Local 5.
Barnes added sheriff's offices from all over the state were offering to send help, but they already had more than enough help.
On Tuesday, the Madison County Emergency Management office set up a lost and found area in a garage next to the sheriff's office. Rebecca Hornback, co-pastor of the Winterset Foursquare Church, was there and has been a part of the lead group in recovery efforts.
With other gracious local groups, she has plans on how to continue bouncing back over the coming months already laid out.
"We've formed a long-term recovery group called the Madison County Resilience with myself and area pastors. Our heart is at the core of being a part of the healing; whether that be physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually," Hornback said.
There are still plenty of ways to help. The focus will be shifting away from the more individual work over the past week or two and more so aimed at organizing larger groups.
If you would like to join one of the groups, call Madison County EMA at 515-462-4255