Family survives close call as tornado hits Nebraska Airbnb

MARTELL, Neb. (KLKN) – Just after 8 a.m. Saturday morning, a tornado touched down in southwest Lancaster County, ripping the roof off an Airbnb and causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.

The owner, Rhiannon Svitak, said there was a family staying in the Airbnb, which she runs out of a barn.

She said the family was staying there for a wedding and had just gotten up to make breakfast when the storm hit.

“There was a TV along this wall … and a foot away was the baby’s bassinet that he was sleeping in,” Svitak said, pointing to the barn. “And the dad went and grabbed the baby, covered him, and two seconds later, the TV was in my garden.”

The family ran for safety as the barn was being torn apart, until eventually they made it to a bedroom, where they hid in the closet.

“And they found refuge under the only piece of tin left on the roof,” Svitak said. “So very grateful that God’s hand was here to keep that metal on the roof for them.”

Svitak said her neighbors came by and helped the family get out afterward. No one was hurt.

Her husband, who built the barn, is deployed with the military and won’t be back for several more months. So she and her three kids will be doing most of the cleanup.

She’s been told that the barn and its additions will all likely have to be torn down, but she doesn’t yet know how much it will cost or what can be salvaged.

Svitak said “it would be nice” if the barn was up when her husband returns.

“A person can dream,” she said.

Svitak said the family also lost a chicken coop and had damage to the siding on their house.

Her neighbors also had several downed tree branches and lost a playground set.

She said the community has already pitched in with the cleanup, and she’s also had friends and family stop by to help.

“It’s overwhelming,” Svitak said. “There’s been a lot of tears today and yesterday. But my kids are healthy, my family is amazing, this community is amazing. So yeah, it’s good. It will be OK.”