94-year-old woman Taopi survived the tornado; childhood home destroyed

TAOPI, Minn. (KTTC) – “It was a very difficult day. I can’t go back to my house. It’s quite sad. I was there for 72 years,” said Norma Kiefer, 94.

The EF-2 tornado on Tuesday night left her home divided.

“All my children were born there. I have ten children, and they were all born there. It was the only house they knew. It’s sad that it’s gone. It was a sad time,” she said.

Despite his loss, Kiefer still kept a smile on his face.

“I never expected something like this to happen but I guess that’s life,” she said.

Kiefer says she’s grateful to be alive.

“It is a miracle that people have lived through this. Because if I was in my house, I wouldn’t be here,” she said.

Kiefer’s daughter, Mary is the mayor of the town.

“My daughter came and picked me up,” she said.

Kiefer said she was sheltering in her home when the storm started.

“I was down in the basement and I was coming back out of the basement when my windows and utility room blew out the stairs and then Mary would come pick me up,” Kiefer said.

Kiefer and her family are grateful to the community that came together to help those whose homes were damaged by tornadoes.

“We are here. We are committed to our town. People are helping us learn and plan,” says Mary Huntley, Kiefer’s daughter. “The worst part is we could lose 8-10 homes, 8-10 structures that probably won’t be repaired.”

Mary’s house was the least damaged in town. It serves as a command center where people can get food, water, and rest.

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