This was my bad day

[Pat Pixley]

This was a bad day at my agency today  (A tornado that hit in Michigan
  Derek Wallbank and Ryan Loew
Lansing State Journal


UPDATED 3:35 p.m. - The National Weather Service this afternoon confirmed a tornado touched down producing major damage in Williamston overnight.

The EF2-class tornado with winds up to 130 miles per hour claimed the lives of Duane and Susan Bentley.

Divers recovered their bodies this morning, after the overnight tornado tossed their modular home into a nearby man-made pond.

The Bentleys were spending their first night in the home at 3227 Haslett Road, according to information sheriff's personnel received from family members.

Autopsies have not been completed, but officials said the couple's deaths will be declared storm-related.

Dan Cobb, one of two National Weather Service meteorologists in the area assessing damage, said the tornado's swath was 150 yards to 300 yards wide in places.

Officials said a second emergency shelter at Webberville High School has been set up, partly because Williamston High School is without power. Residents can still go to Williamston High or call 911 if they need help.

"At this point, if you have nothing in town you need to be here for, don't come into town," Williamston Mayor Kenneth Zichi said. "The more people who are here, the harder it is for (emergency personnel) to do their jobs.")  The Bentley's were my clients  this was one of the hardest thing I ever had to do  is talk to the family . Tornado are a horrible thing  .Some photo's the first one is what is left of the bentley's home.
The rest of Williamston . 

[Pat Pixley]

and a few more photo's  If you want to see more go to www.lsj.com there are more there

[Eric]

wow... Pat I'm so sorry... we've had a few rough weather nights this past week.. must be that time of year... My oldest is scared of storms... all he has to hear is the rain and he's in our room...
Glad to know you're alright...

[bubba]

Wow Pat... Sorry to hear that... That is incredible.

[sodaworks]

Sorry to hear Pat. We too had some bad news this week. One of my very good friends was killed in a freak wind/sand storm on Tuesday. He was driving down the freeway and got caught up in a freak sandstorm that caused zero visibility. He and three other people were killed in a 20 car pile up.

[Seven181]

Pat,

Sorry to hear the news. I grew up in Michigan and we never got a lot of tornado's. I live here in Kansas and though I am on the East side of the state, we get them all the time on the west. What a terrible thing! Hope your town gets back on it's feet soon!

Brian

[collecture]

Saw footage of the tornado on the news this morning - pretty devastating!
First night in the home - wow!
Glad you and yours are safe and sound!

Sorry to hear about your friend Terry!

[Pat Pixley]

Thanks every one ,  I went back out there later on today to talk to more of my
client's  and wrote up a few more claims. Boy you just dont realize how luck you are
 one minute it happy story then the next a tornado come's in and wipes you out.

   I was talking to one of my client, They had told me the people two home down from them did not have insurance on their home and it was condemned, The home was moved two inch
off the foundation and they are looking for help , as I was told he lost his job in May and they cut their cost and cut the insurance,  A few of the builder and other venders are talking
about helping them out, I hope they do get together on that .

   The park in downtown Williamston  had about fifty tree's map's oak's a few pine's
and those are gone, My father and I  had talking about buying a tree or two and
donating them to the park in the name of the Bentley's something to remember them by
We will have to see what the mayor has to say about this ( he alittle goofy).

Terry, sorry to hear adout your good friend, alway remember him for the good time's
because those are the best time's.
 
 Here is a few more photo's s both of these are client's home's

 

[MoonDawg]

      Seems like a disaster like that only happens on TV, never in
our home town.  Pat, that tree idea is great, our military should
look into that idea as well.
      Disasters are shocking! I have many customers who live in
Malibu......about 30 miles from here and the community is in flames
right now. Mansions burned to the ground as we watch on TV.
      It's horrifying but at least no one has lost a life yet.

[Pat Pixley]

Hey Glen , I've been following the fire's out there are you sure 30 miles
is far enough away, We don't need you coming out as a crispy member
Ok..
Quick note  :  I talked to the Mayor of Williamston today about the two tree's
and he love it thought that was a great idea, Next step go talk to family
members and get their ok on this.

  And glen that is a great idea to do with our military  should look in to this deal.
I think the family also would like it.

 Pat

[BrianB]

I'll tell you you guys straight up, as a member of the Armed Forces, I am 100% sure that the idea you have is golden. Anything that you can do to recognize my fellow shipmates, Marines, Soldiers and Airman is a good thing.

Even if you don't believe in the politics that accompany the war, supporting our men and women in uniform is the only way to go! It would really suck to have our current generation be remembered in the same light as the Vietnam era.