KLKN-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Lincoln, NE; KLKNTV.comHallam Tornado Fifth Anniversary Approaching
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It's been a slow rebuilding process for the town of Hallam, and times have been tough, but the community has come together in these past five years and they're united to move ahead.
Driving through the town of Hallam, 5 years after a F4 tornado ravaged the small town, Hallam has been rebuilding piece by piece.
"It's a slow process to come back and there's still a lot to do," said Bruce Trautwein, who has played a huge hand in rebuilding the town. When the twister hit, he was trying to get home to Hallam to get his wife. She was trapped in some of the rubel in the backyard. Luckily, a neighbor helped get her out. It wasn't until later that night when he saw what the tornado had done to the town he called home for so many years.
"I didn't believe it," he said. "I didn't believe there could be that kind of destruction and I found my dog the next day and she wasn't hurt."
Despite loosing everything...
"I will be 64 years old in August. Five years ago I was 59 and you gotta start all over again," said Trautwein. He said that day, someone was looking out for him. "Miracles, stacked up 1 after the other," he said.
And while many Hallam residents, left after the storm, that was never an option for him.
"This is home, this is where the heart is," Trautwein said.
The town of Hallam is still trying to raise money and even coming out with a cookbook. You can mail donations to PO Box 2, Hallam, NE 68368. Mail cookbook suggestions to brucon@galaxy.cable.net or call 402-787-2138 and ask for Connie.
