In April of 2018, a tornado ripped through Clifton, Ohio, ripping apart homes and barns.
John Richardson lost his barn in the event, and his horse was trapped inside at the time.
“It’s devastating, there’s nothing else to say about it,” he told Fox 28 News of the barn erected in 1861.
Spotting the disaster
Richardson could see it coming from his property as he was tucked inside his home.
“It came across this field over here and it was just like a sheet of white,” he said of the oncoming twister.
Local police saw the tornado as well, coming from the south and touching down near US-42.
But Richardson’s horse wasn’t the only animal at risk. According to Fox 28 News, a man named Scotty Johnson watched his father-in-law’s chickens bear the brunt of the wind.
“It went from sheets blowing across the yard to this circular motion blowing across the yard,” Johnson said.
The animals blew over a fence, but they managed to survive. The main damage was to trees.
“We got a chainsaw, a tractor, it will take some effort and some sunny days, but hopefully those are in our future,” he said.
Rebuilding
While Richardson will have some more extensive work to do to repair his historic barn, he was shocked to see his horse standing in the middle of the rubble after the storm.
“We had a horse pinned in some of the debris you see here on this side and it’s just a miracle he made it,” Richardson said.
The animal, named Freckles, had some scrapes and bruises, which is incredible considering the damage.
It turns out Freckles had run into the barn to escape the storm. Perhaps he didn’t realize it was well over 100 years old when he decided to use it as shelter.
A viral story
Richardson’s photos after the storm went viral, in part because of Freckles.
“Clifton/Cedarville , OH Tornado April 3, 2018. Freckles pinned by debris after running back into the barn during the storm. (He was NOT stalled). The barns were leveled to the ground. He survived and only suffered minor bumps and bruises. He is doing well…. Only by the grace of God!” he said in his Facebook post.
A “miracle”
Richardson credits Freckles’ survival to a miracle.
“Freckles was freed from the debris and seems to be okay. It’s a miracle that he is alive. So grateful for the many friends and neighbors that showed up to help! I can never repay your kindness,” he wrote on Facebook.
Other residents in the area shared amazing stories of survival as well:
“Wow so glad freckles is ok. You can rebuild, but sad for you. My neighbor were talking couple years ago in her field..i climbed back over fence 20 seconds later her barn was gone..her sons were on news because one saved other one by throwing him in ditch and got on top of him,” replied a commenter on Richardson’s photos.
The future of Freckles
Not only did Freckles miraculously survive the tornado and the barn coming down around him, but the nearly 30-year-old horse is still in good health on the Ohio farm.
The area is no stranger to tornadoes. In 2019, the region was hit by a spate of 17 tornadoes at once, according to WLWT News.
We just hope Freckles has a sturdy place to run to next time it happens!
Be sure to scroll down below for Richardson’s Facebook post and all of the photos from that day.
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