MOUNT ZION — When the Dec. 28 tornado struck Ariel Futrell's Skyline Drive home in Mount Zion, she could actually feel the entire structure shudder with the force of the winds.
Volunteer Carolyn Ridenour talks to Ariel Futrell, who brought her two children to the Mount Zion United Methodist Church's food pantry on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, to pick up supplies to help them through. The family's rented home sustained significant damage in the Dec. 28 tornado and is uninhabitable.
Clint Ashmore, left, Kerry Toothman, and Bob Hawkins pick up debris left from the Dec. 28 tornado that hit Mount Zion and Long Creek. The men are members of the Mount Zion Odd Fellows, who volunteered to assist.
Trees along Elwin Road between Elwin and Mount Zion were topped Sunday, Dec. 28, by a severe storm that passed through Macon County. A short distance away, a home had a portion of its roof ripped off.
A home at the intersection of Walmsley and Sand Creek roads sustained extensive damage from a tornado that passed through Macon County on Sunday, Dec. 28.
A Long Creek Fire Protection District truck lights up an otherwise dark Skyline Drive tornado-damaged home along Skyline Drive is shown on Sunday, Dec. 28.
Friends and family were on hand to place a tarp over a section of roof that was damaged by a tornado that touched down Sunday, Dec. 28, along Bentonville Road in Long Creek.
The storm that swept through Macon County on Sunday, Dec. 28, caused extensive damage on Skyline Drive and Bentonville Road in Long Creek.
A tornado-damaged home along Skyline Drive is shown on Monday, Dec. 29.
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A tornado-damaged home along Skyline Drive is shown on Monday, Dec. 29.
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Two of the homes damaged by a tornado that touched down along Skyline Drive are shown on Monday, Dec. 29.
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A broken album is among the debris that was scattered from the homes damaged by a tornado that struck homes Sunday, Dec. 28, along Skyline Drive.
SCOTT PERRY, HERALD & REVIEW
Trees along Elwin Road between Elwin and Mount Zion were topped Sunday, Dec. 28, by a severe storm that passed through Macon County. A short distance away, a home had a portion of its roof ripped off.
SCOTT PERRY, HERALD & REVIEW
A home along Elwin Road between Elwin and Mount Zion was damaged Sunday, Dec. 28, by a severe storm that passed through Macon County.
SCOTT PERRY, HERALD & REVIEW
A home at the intersection of Walmsley and Sand Creek roads sustained extensive damage from a tornado that passed through Macon County on Sunday, Dec. 28.
SCOTT PERRY, HERALD & REVIEW
A home along Jeanette Drive in Long Creek was destroyed Sunday, Dec. 29, by a tornado.
SCOTT PERRY, HERALD & REVIEW
A tornado-damaged home along Skyline Drive is shown on Sunday, Dec. 28.
SCOTT PERRY, HERALD & REVIEW
A Long Creek Fire Protection District truck lights up an otherwise dark Skyline Drive tornado-damaged home along Skyline Drive is shown on Sunday, Dec. 28.
SCOTT PERRY, HERALD & REVIEW
A tornado-damaged home along Skyline Drive is shown on Sunday, Dec. 28.
SCOTT PERRY, HERALD & REVIEW
A large tree along Skyline Drive was downed by a tornado that passed through the area on Sunday, Dec. 28.
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Scattered debris from a tornado-destroyed garage along Bentonville Road is shown Sunday, Dec. 28.
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Friends and family were on hand to place a tarp over a section of roof that was damaged by a tornado that touched down Sunday, Dec. 28, along Bentonville Road in Long Creek.
SCOTT PERRY, HERALD & REVIEW
A license plate is among the debris scattered by a tornado that touched down Sunday, Dec. 28, along Bentonville Road in Long Creek.
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Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter
Clint Ashmore, left, Kerry Toothman, and Bob Hawkins pick up debris left from the Dec. 28 tornado that hit Mount Zion and Long Creek. The men are members of the Mount Zion Odd Fellows, who volunteered to assist.
Volunteer Carolyn Ridenour talks to Ariel Futrell, who brought her two children to the Mount Zion United Methodist Church's food pantry on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, to pick up supplies to help them through. The family's rented home sustained significant damage in the Dec. 28 tornado and is uninhabitable.