MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) — Many of Parkway Village’s large mature trees are now on the ground, or worse, on homes.While people are in the dark, many are still smiling because it could have been much worse.
Local 24 News found some storm victims who are even more grateful for each other than they were this time yesterday, like Roland Epps.
“I was shocked,” said Epps. “I was surprised at the damage that had happened at the time.”
Epps’ home on Cottonwood Drive in Parkway Village is covered on its west side by two huge trees. One of those trees is from the middle of his neighbor’s front yard. Epps wasn’t home when the winds swooped in and toppled the trees, but another neighbor, Joann Hicks, heard it from across the street.
“I jumped up and sat up in the bed,” said Hicks, who thought Epps was in the house.
“I looked over across the street and I couldn’t see him, so I started running for my neighbor,” said Hicks.
Epps was already at work and got the word of the fate that had befallen his house from his brother who had come to his job to tell him.
“It really didn’t dawn on me how bad the situation was until I got here,” said Epps.
When we arrived at Epps’ home, we had no idea it was his because he was smiling.
“God works in mysterious ways, so I accept what happened and it is what it is,” said Epps.
It’s hard to believe, but as far as anybody can tell right now, the worst of Epps’ damage is to his garage, even underneath all of those trees. Epps and his neighbors are relieved they’re alive and things weren’t any worse as the cleanup begins.
