McDavid Man Details Storm’s Destruction Of His Home

March 10, 2011

James Milstead was a remarkably calm man Wednesday morning, considering that as he huddled in the hallway of his McDavid home, the roof was ripped from over his head and the entire house was moved from its foundation.

“I could tell something; you could feel something in the air,” Milstead said as he stood outside the Main Street home that had been in his family for 60 years. “It happened real quick. The windows started blowing out…the roof. And I’m trying to hold the doors, and it just pulls the doors out of my hands.”

He said he just dropped to the floor and pulled a jacket over his head for protection. The howling winds, he said, only lasted for five to 10 seconds.

But during the ordeal, he said his primary concern was not his home, but the mobile home and safety of his next door neighbors. The trailer survived intact, but the roof was severely damaged, wood and tin from other homes sticking out.

Milstead, 58, did not immediately know where he would spend Wednesday night, but he was considering the small shed behind his home. It survived mostly intact.

“I have a generator,” he said. “I might just stay in there until I get this cleaned up.”

Milstead’s home was one of nine homes damaged or destroyed in small area either side of Highway 29 on Highway 164 or Main Street in McDavid. The American Red Cross worked to provide shelter to those that had no where to go after the storm.

Pictured top: The roof was ripped from James Milstead’s McDavid home as the entire house shift several inches off its foundation. Pictured top inset: Milstead details his ordeal. Pictured bottom inset: Looking through a broken window of Milstead’s home into a room and up into the open sky. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

4 Responses to “McDavid Man Details Storm’s Destruction Of His Home”

  1. Elmo on March 11th, 2011 8:09 am

    I`ve known James for many years, this is a good man. He has a strong will and is very humble with his large statue. James, I know you have sang a song to the man after the storm. You have a God giving talent of a voice, but, you also have the God given talent of humbleness! I admired your strength during a tragic time. Gonna come see ya man and lend a hand to a good person.

  2. ellenb on March 11th, 2011 6:47 am

    Thankful that James & everyone are safe, but so sad to see Mr. Wilson’s (Milstead) house being destroyed. Loved the days of going by & drinking coffee, & hearing that famous, “doodle”.

  3. Jim W on March 10th, 2011 1:54 pm

    What a life changing experience I am sure. God Bless all the people who had damage.

  4. Fred on March 10th, 2011 7:38 am

    Please pray for these families that have been tested.
    Hopefully the story of Old Job will prevail for them.
    It’s amazing no one was hurt or killed.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News