KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Keith and Emily Scheelhaase were fast asleep inside their Knoxville home last Tuesday night when severe weather struck.
"I heard the wind, a great big swirl of wind, and then I screamed [Keith's] name," Emily told Local 5.
The couple jumped out of bed to go check on one of their daughters, who was asleep downstairs, when the ceiling began caving in. A massive branch from a tree in their backyard, snapped off by the tornado, fell directly onto their home.
"There's no words to describe what that night was like," Keith said. "Everything was coming in on top of you, and you feel completely helpless."
The days following the storm have not been easy on their family.
Due to the damage, they’ve been displaced from their home, now staying with relatives until repairs are complete. Their home wasn't insured when they were transferred the house by other family members, so it wasn't covered when the tornado hit.
Yet, all hope hasn't been lost. The Knoxville community is rallying around them, helping replace what they can and offering a much-needed shoulder to lean on.
“It's tough to go through this, and then to have somebody come up, put their arm around you, and tell you it’s gonna be okay… it's great," Leith said. "I love everybody out here.”
A GoFundMe has been set up by the Scheelhaase family to help with repair costs.