NYITCOM-Arkansas Helps Those in Need after Tornado Hits

Pictured: On March 28, a tornado ripped through Jonesboro, Ark., destroying approximately 100 homes and damaging nearly 400 more.

In late March, Tony Slieman, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of academic affairs at NYITCOM-Arkansas, was enjoying a quiet Saturday evening at his Jonesboro home with his family, loosely monitoring the weather, when he received a text message from fellow NYITCOM faculty member William “Sam” Palmer, M.D., that alerted him to the seriousness of the situation he was facing.

“He said, ‘Find a safe spot, NOW,” Slieman recalls. “I had just looked outside, and it was barely raining, so I didn’t think we were in imminent danger. Dr. Palmer told me a tornado had just touched down on the street next to mine.”

Slieman, his wife, and two young children crouched into the tub of their downstairs bathroom. They covered their heads as they heard glass breaking and felt their house shaking. Less than a minute later, they emerged to view a disaster area in their front yard.

“I timed it at seven seconds,” Slieman said. “That’s how long it lasted. I walked out of my front door, and the sky was clear and calm again, but there were roof shingles, boards, and broken glass in my front yard. It was the remnants of my house and those of my neighbors.”

The EF-3 tornado that spun through Jonesboro on March 28 destroyed around 100 homes and damaged nearly 400 more. Additionally, there were about 100 businesses damaged by the storm, including the local mall and municipal airport.

NYITCOM-Arkansas Site Dean Shane Speights helps repair Assistant Professor Tony Slieman's roof.

Because of the social distancing measures that were in place due to the COVID-19 issue, the Jonesboro business district that would have been buzzing with shoppers and diners on a Saturday evening was relatively unpopulated. As a result, there were no casualties, and only 22 individuals suffered injuries.

“We all know that we were very fortunate,” Slieman said.

Slieman’s home sustained major but repairable damage. Six NYITCOM-Arkansas medical students suffered damage to their homes that prevented them from living in them at least temporarily. Among those was Margaret Kell, OMS III.

“There was a lot of shattered glass, and our roof must be totally replaced,” Kell said. “Many of our neighbors had two-story homes that are now one-story. It was a very scary experience, one that I hope is only once-in-a-lifetime.”

While the impact of the storm was significant, so was the response. The Office of Student Administration and Academic Affairs immediately got on the phone to check on students and ensure their safety. Within an hour, every student was accounted for.

Kris Cohen, Ph.D., assistant dean of student administration, contacted Shane Speights, D.O., site dean of NYITCOM-Arkansas, who instructed her to purchase hotel rooms for the students displaced from their homes.

“His message was, ‘Get it done,” Cohen said. “Our focus was on taking care of our students.”

Site Dean Shane Speights and his son helped board up the windows of student Margaret Kell’s home.

The next morning, Speights and several NYITCOM-Arkansas faculty and staff helped repair the homes of Slieman and those of the students who sustained damage.

“Everyone showed up in force to help,” Kell said. “We immediately received calls from people checking on us and making arrangements to get us in a hotel. I had a faculty member offer to let us stay in their house. Dr. Speights was in my living room the next morning boarding up windows. We’re very grateful for everything New York Tech has done.”

In the midst of an already unusual time with behaviors altered due to the COVID-19 situation, the Jonesboro tornado made trying circumstances even more difficult for many NYITCOM-Arkansas students. While a handful had major damage to their homes, several future doctors lost power for a few days, which made their online course work challenging. Many lost food because their refrigerators weren’t operating, and several had their cars damaged by the tornado.

“Even though the worst has passed in terms of the storm, we still have some students who are struggling to get past the experience,” Cohen said. “They continue to need our help, and we’re doing all that we can to support them.”

Donate to the NYITCOM at Arkansas State – Jonesboro Student Emergency Fund.