An “awesome” and “beautiful” 10-year-old boy has been identified as one of six people killed when powerful tornadoes ripped through Tennessee over the weekend.
Arlan Burnham, a fourth-grader at West Creek Elementary School, was found dead under rubble when his Clarksville home collapsed Saturday, his mother announced on Facebook.
“My beautiful baby boy, Arlan, didn’t make it out of the house,” wrote Katherine Burnham, noting that his home was gone” after being on the “live street [the] tornado.”
“I can’t put into words how devastated I am.”
Arlan and his sister, Ella, were both trapped under the debris.
While a neighbor, Billy Urban, managed to pull the two out, only the girl survived, escaping with minor injuries, Clarksville Now reported.
“My son is amazing,” the grieving mother told the outlet. “There is no one in this world like him. Anyone who has met him is at a loss.”
Arlan Burnham, 10, was killed in the powerful tornado that touched down in Clarksville, Tenn. on Saturday. Katherine Burnham / Facebook
Her husband, Kyle, also posted on Facebook that “our whole family was turned upside down” by the tornado.
“Kyle and I are not doing well,” the mother insisted in her post.
“We don’t know how to navigate through this, we don’t know what’s next,” he said. “Anyone who knows me at all knows how much I love and adore my children, all children really.”
The Burnhams say they are struggling to come to terms with the boy’s death as they work to rebuild their home. Katherine Burnham / Facebook
Family friends have since set up an online fundraiser, to raise money for the Burnhams to rebuild their home and pay for Arlan’s funeral expenses.
“The road to recovery will be long and difficult, both emotionally and financially,” it reads.
“The Burnham family now faces the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from scratch.
“As they cope with the grief of losing a loved family member, they must also face the bitter challenge of rebuilding their homes and replacing the necessities lost in the tornado.
“Let’s come together as a community to show Kyle Burnham and his family that they are not alone in their fight,” the GoFundMe said, noting: “Your generosity will give them the strength and resources they need to begin the healing process and rebuild their lives them after this heartbreaking tragedy.”
Burnham’s mother said their two-story home was directly in the path of the tornado. Katherine Burnham / Facebook
As of Monday morning, the fundraiser had raised more than $85,000 for the family — 17 times more than the $5,000 requested.
The family is also asking for clothing donations.
The other two adults who died in Clarksville have not yet been identified.
Also killed in the strong storm were Joseph Dalton, 37; Floridana Gabriel Perez, 31; and Perez’s 2-year-old son, Anthony Elmer Mendez.
A total of six people were killed in the tornado, and 83 people were injured. Reuters
Nashville Metropolitan Police said Dalton’s mobile home rolled on top of Perez during the storm.
Perez’s other son, 7, and 10-year-old son Dalton, were both inside the home at the time and were taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
In total, 83 people were injured and 23 are being treated in local hospitals.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
