09/08/2026
TWO MONTHS LATER - OAKLAND BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD AT FLOYD LAKE
It’s been two months since the tornado ripped through the Oakland Beach neighborhood of Floyd Lake, leaving behind a path of destruction that changed this area in a matter of minutes.
Today, most of the debris has been removed, but the scars are still impossible to miss.
Some of the hardest-hit properties have been scraped completely clean. Blank concrete pads now mark the places where homes and other structures once stood. And perhaps most noticeable from the air are the trees that survived - stripped, broken and scarred, their gnarled limbs still showing the incredible force of what came through here.
Nature has a remarkable way of healing itself. Grass will grow, trees will fill in, and over time the landscape will begin to look familiar again.
But two months later, I was surprised to see how many homes still appear to be waiting for repairs to really begin. It’s a reminder that cleaning up after a disaster is one thing - rebuilding lives, homes and a neighborhood takes much longer.
For those who live here, this wasn’t simply a storm that passed through. The recovery continues long after the headlines and cleanup crews have moved on. Our thoughts, and prayers are with you.
