title: Eyes in a Storm: How One Community Weathered Life After a Deadly Tornado
author:  Jessica McNew 
description: Jessica Gregg McNew is a graduate of the University of Maryland journalism school and has spent more than a decade working as a reporter and freelance writer. She lives in Montana with her husband and two children.
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  # Breaking the Bully
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Jessa Kane
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Prologue](part0002.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 1](part0003.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 2](part0004.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 3](part0005.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 4](part0006.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 5](part0007.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 6](part0008.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Chapter 7](part0009.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Epilogue](part0010.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Prologue
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Allie
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I’ve always loved storms.
  
  
  The entire sky marbled in blacks and grays and fuchsia, streaking with white
  light. Storms remind us that no matter what is happening down on solid ground,
  Mother Nature could put a stop to it in a split second, if she chose. That
  scares some people, but it comforts me—the thought of the weather swiping her
  arm across the earth like a chessboard, knocking all the game pieces to the
  floor. Setting me free. Making it possible for me to run far away fro