Woman Caught Outside In Tornado

INDIANAPOLIS -- Victims of a tornado that ripped part of Indianapolis' northeast side Friday night are sharing their stories of what happened during the storm -- perhaps none more compelling than Audrey Willingham's.

"It was unbelievable because you can say what you will do, but you can't do it. You don't know what to do, and I was by myself," said Audrey Willingham. "I am just glad to be here."

Willingham was walking to her apartment home near 42nd Street and Post Road when the storm arrived. She said that in an instant, the skies were murky, the rain blinding and the wind virtually indescribable.

"The minute I stepped from behind the tree, it (the wind) just picked me up and threw me into a tree in front of the complex," Willingham said.

Willingham told 6News' Cheryl Jackson that she couldn't breathe, see or think in the immediate aftermath of the tornado.

"You couldn't open your eyes to even know where you were going," Willingham said.

When the wind stopped, Willingham stumbled home. Her electricity was out and the smell of natural gas permeated the air.

Willingham is one of more than 100 people who found comfort at the American Red Cross center at the First Church of the Nazarene.

Tornado victims are provided shelter, food and clothing in the wake of the storm, which cut a 2.5-mile swath through a portion of Indianapolis' northeast side.

Rebecca Terry was one of numerous people who brought some clothing to be donated.

"We just wanted to touch their lives," Terry said.

The number of people who staying at the shelter was expected to increase slightly Sunday night.

"Folks may have friends and family to stay with last night, and now they need somewhere to stay tonight," said Carol Greeley of the Red Cross.