A terrified Tennessee mom hunkered down while a devastating tornado touched down near her Clarksville mobile home and changed her life forever. Caitlyn Moore, 22, tried to protect herself and her sons, 1-year-old Princeton, and 4-month-old Lord, but the strong winds proved too much, and the tornado destroyed their home.
As Moore lay on top of Princeton, she watched helplessly as Lord’s bassinet was sucked into a funnel cloud, WSMV reported. Miraculously, the entire family survived with only minor injuries. Moore believes that God saved her family’s lives.
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The storms were devastating.
A string of tornadoes broke out in central Tennessee on December 9, killing six and leaving thousands of people without power. Storms destroyed many homes, including the mobile home Moore shared with her two children and boyfriend, Aramis Youngblood. As Saturday’s storms became more dangerous, Moore knew she had to protect her son.
“Something in me just told me to run and jump on top of my son,” Moore told WSMV. “Literally the moment I jumped on him, the walls collapsed.”
She watched helplessly as her baby's bassinet disappeared.
She told WSMV that Youngblood tried to grab the baby’s bassinet, but he couldn’t reach him, and the infant blew away. The family was terrified and thought there was no way Lord could survive.
“He was just holding on to the bassinet the whole time, and they went into circles, he said, and then they got thrown,” Moore said.
Debris pinned down Moore and Princeton.
It must have been a case of a mother’s superhuman strength because Moore was able to push the wreckage aside to free herself and her toddler. A frantic search for Lord ensued. She feared the worst when she finally found Lord in a fallen tree.
“I thought he was dead,” Moore said, per WSMV. “I was pretty sure he was dead and we weren’t going to find him. But he’s here, and that’s by the grace of God.”
The family’s home is a total loss.
Although they are grateful to be alive, the family is left with nothing but memories of their former life. Their mobile home was destroyed, and a tree fell on top of their car, crushing it. Moore said there was nothing that could have stopped her from shielding her children from harm.
“I will die for my kids. That’s not even a question. And my boyfriend would do the same thing,” she said, according to WSMV.
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The family put together a GoFundMe page to help them rebuild.
Caitlyn Moore, Sydney Moore’s sister, wanted to help her and Youngblood get back on their feet. The family is living in a hotel and trying to figure out what to do next, having lost their home, car, and necessities such as diapers, wipes, and Sydney Moore’s cellphone.
“This disaster has affected more than just this family, so I would like to extend my thoughts and prayers to everyone affected. If you cannot donate, a simple share would be enough," Caitlyn Moore wrote on the GoFundMe page. "I thank each of you for taking the time to read through this post, donating, and praying for everyone involved. God Bless.”
The fundraiser has brought in more than $50,000 in donations thus far, with messages of love pouring in for the family.
“With Prayers to Jesus and Mother Mary. I pray for all those affected, both the Living and the Deceased, and I rejoice that Lord was safely found,” one donor shared.
Another person added, “I saw this story in the news in South Carolina. I cannot fathom! I hope this little bit helps. Your family is surely still here for a reason! Praying those sweet boys chase all of their dreams. ❤️”
